By Dr Ann Clarke Businesses for Health Papua New Guinea
Once upon a time in Papua New Guinea, there was a company named Trukai. It was (and still is!) the largest rice distributor in the country. Trukai had always been committed to the well-being of its employees and the communities it served. In June 2022, the company embarked upon a mission that truly affected the wellbeing of the entire nation.
It all started when Dr. Ann Clarke, a passionate advocate for ending the scourge of TB, gave a compelling presentation to the boss, and then to Trukai’s senior management team. Dr. Clarke represented the Businesses for Health TB project (B4H), an initiative aimed at ending the burden that tuberculosis (TB) places on businesses, employees, and communities in Papua New Guinea.
Dr. Clarke’s presentation shocked Trukai’s CEO and the senior management team. They were horrified when they heard there were 42,000 new cases of TB and more than 5000 TB deaths the previous year. It was clear that TB was not only a serious issue for their own workers and their communities, but also on the wider society. Trukai decided to act and make a difference.
Trukai’s first step was to appoint a dedicated TB team leader, Nerrie Topa. Nerrie’s task was to spearhead the company’s TB efforts, which she approached with purpose and determination.
Firstly, Trukai arranged with B4H to address key groups in their sales and marketing divisions, and to put in place awareness campaigns to educate its employees about TB. Workplace education programs disseminated crucial information about TB prevention, its symptoms, and the importance of early diagnosis. To combat the inevitable stigma and fear associated with TB, Trukai instituted compassionate HR processes that supported employees, and encouraged them to seek help earlier.
Nerrie and her team focused on building a network of workplace TB wardens across Trukai’s business units. Their goal was to prevent needless suffering and deaths from TB. These wardens became the eyes, ears, and hearts of the TB program, kindly supporting individuals showing signs of TB, encouraging them to get tested, and then mentoring them through the recovery and long treatment process.
The impact of Trukai’s efforts became evident within less than one year. With the support and guidance of Nerrie, employees did get tested for TB. Staff were diagnosed with active TB disease. Trukai’s TB leader Nerrie ensured sick employees received free TB services, the correct treatment and supported them to return to work quickly upon the TB doctor’s clearance.
With B4H, Trukai also took the initiative to extend TB awareness beyond its own walls. The company displayed the B4H “COVERYOURCOUGH” message on the 40,000 fun run shirts that were worn in every province of Papua New Guinea. By doing so, Trukai spread the message of TB prevention to customers and suppliers throughout the nation, furthering the reach of their TB awareness.
The impact that Trukai had in such a short period inspired the B4H team. They were delighted to see Trukai embrace the project’s mission wholeheartedly and witness lives being saved. Trukai set an example for other businesses.
As time went on, Trukai continued to build upon their TB program. They expanded their reach, ensuring that their TB wardens were present in every corner of their business, and extended their TB messages to their customers and suppliers throughout PNG.
The TB doctors and nurses of PNG were overjoyed to see patients back at work. The national TB program staff celebrated because one person coughing with untreated TB creates more sick people the next year!
The story of Trukai and their partnership with the Businesses for Health TB project is inspiring. Together they showed everyone that saving lives and ending TB in PNG is possible.
