"Give TB the Red Card"

During the 1900’s the South African government provided aid to its people to fight TB. TB eventually subsided. However, with the onset of HIV/AIDS in the late 1900’s, TB is back in full force. AIDS depletes one’s immune system causing susceptibility to TB. TB is once again a major concern in South Africa.

With the World Cup coming soon, media is using the soccer appeal to communicate health advisories to the South African people. In a commercial that I have seen constantly on the TV and hear on the radio, the World Cup is the theme to send the message of the importance of being tested for TB. This commercial starts by explaining that in soccer, yellow cards are given as a warning. TB also gives yellow cards. The commercial gives examples of the warnings, or yellow cards of TB, such as coughing for more than 2 weeks, or constant exhaustion. The commercial then states that people must notice these warnings and take action. To “give TB the red card”, one must get tested for the disease. This commercial sends the message that to take strong action, such as giving a red card to a player in a soccer game, one must know his or her TB status