Beyond the lab: Eh!woza and knowing tuberculosis.

Area of Science:

• Public engagement in health
• Medical humanities
• Community-based participatory research

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) presents complex biomedical and social challenges in South Africa.
• Effective public engagement requires innovative approaches to bridge scientific and community understanding.
• Youth involvement is crucial for disseminating health information and fostering local narratives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the Eh!woza initiative, a collaboration exploring TB through science and art.
• To analyze the integration of biomedical knowledge with community narratives.
• To examine contrasting perspectives on cure versus care in TB.

Main Methods:

• Interactive workshops combining biomedical TB education with documentary filmmaking.
• Community-based storytelling by young learners in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
• Qualitative analysis of student experiences and community narratives.

Main Results:

• Learners gained biomedical knowledge and media production skills.
• Participants created compelling narratives reflecting lived experiences of TB.
• The project highlighted diverse understandings of illness, cure, and care.

Conclusions:

• Eh!woza offers alternative models for exploring human illness and knowledge communication.
• Integrating scientific and lay perspectives enriches understanding of TB.
• The initiative contributes to the growth of medical humanities in Africa.