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Imam Azalshoh, religious leader
Tuberculosis hides. It’s highly infectious, hard to diagnose, and difficult to treat. But the first step in addressing these challenges is stopping TB from hiding.
Imam Azalshoh, a religious leader at the Imam Azam Central Mosque in Tajikistan, dedicates his time to raising awareness about TB. Tajikistan struggles with multidrug-resistant TB, which requires complex and costly treatment.
Many in Imam Azalshoh’s community fear TB. While he initially harbored the same fear, his perspective shifted after participating in an FHI 360 program designed to educate religious and community leaders. The program equipped him with tools to address stigma and support people undergoing TB treatment.
Armed with new knowledge, he began visiting TB patients in his village to better understand their needs. Now, he uses his platform to educate others about TB prevention and treatment, challenging misconceptions and offering support to affected individuals.
The first thing I did was get acquainted with the list of people with TB in my village. I went to each of them in their homes … and now I can confidently say who needs what and how they feel.