Partner: Lulu
Lulu’s TB was missed by the clinics but detected by APOPO. She joined volunteer group MKUTA to help raise TB awareness.
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/James-Oatway-147a-1.jpg)
I was once very sick. I almost died because my local clinic couldn’t identify my illness. Thankfully APOPO found TB. They saved my life.
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_5820-lulu-clinic-01s-1-scaled.jpg)
I got treatment and recovered. I then joined MKUTA to help raise TB awareness.
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/JVL-TB-Clinic_12-2.jpg)
MKUTA is a group of volunteers, like Abbas, who work in clinics and in communities.
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_6198-Lulu-demo-01.jpg)
Many people avoid clinic due to costs of transport & time off work or fear of TB stigma.
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_6432-TB-sheet-1.jpg)
We teach the facts, dispel the myths and urge people to get tested as soon as possible.
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/JVL-TB-Clinic_09-1.jpg)
We also teach them how to provide a good sputum sample (harder than you think!)
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Apopo_Palonen_32-1.jpg)
Most importantly we make sure that people leave good contact details
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/JVL-TB-Detection_16-1.jpg)
…so that if clinics mis-diagnose them, but the HeroRATs later find TB that APOPO confirms…
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_6320-getting-treatment-01s-1-scaled.jpg)
…we can still track them down and get them back to clinic
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_6331-pills-1.jpg)
…to start their treatment and get well again
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/32-Apopo_Palonen_35.jpg)
All MKUTA volunteers are TB survivors – proof that TB is easily curable
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_5851-Shirifa-1s-1-scaled.jpg)
As long as you get tested in time and get on treatment, like Shirifa
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_5988-Abdulrahman-2.jpg)
Like Abdul…
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_6037-Claudia-and-Mumsml-1.jpg)
Like Claudi and his grandma…
![](https://apopo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_6259-Lulu-01-1.jpg)
… and like me!