The co-operation of non-governmental agencies which are generally represented through TB Associations is considered essential in making domiciliary service programmes successful in all aspects. It is recognised that the government has not been able to ensure an adequate supply of treatment drugs. Even when an adequate supply exists, there is a problem in getting these drugs to individual patients and ensuring that they take the drugs regularly for the prescribed period. Therefore, these non-governmental organisations can help in the distribution of drugs, in monitoring drug intake and checking drug default. They can organise constructive programs yielding tangible results such as the TB Seals Campaign. It is suggested that each district have a set of voluntary or paid workers who would assist in the above activities. For the TB control programme to be successful, there should be active co-operation and partnership between official and non-official organisations and, the TB associations should re-orient their programme in order to fit in with the scheme for domiciliary treatment of TB patients.

The contribution of voluntary organizations to the success of control programmes in the past, in countries where TB prevalence is now low, has been appreciable and this fact should be recognized. The Japan Anti-TB Association and its activities are described to highlight the importance of voluntary organizations in fighting TB. The mortality and incidence rates of TB are still fairly high compared with other low-prevalence countries. Therefore, the Japan Association is urged to fight the loss of interest in TB observed in the country (similarly observed in other low-prevalence countries), as it created serious problems in carrying out TB programs, through utilizing all possible media. Encouraging the activities of women’s anti-TB societies, composed mostly of housewives in the community and having its own research institute that conducts research on TB and disseminates all the necessary information, are two unique achievements of the Association. It also conducts an international training course for participants from high-prevalence countries abroad. Fund-raising is a big problem for the association. Ways to overcome this problem are suggested.

Even in high economic industrialized countries, TB is far from eradication, while in many developing countries it remains the greatest public health problem and disabling and killing disease. In all countries even those with low TB incidence, there is need for the continuance of active anti-TB programmes at a reasonable level, with government operation of the actual programmes, but with continued public interest and support through voluntary TB associations.

The Finnish Anti-TB Association and its activities are presented to discuss the functions and role of voluntary TB associations. The primary goals of the Finnish Association are:1) improved TB programme, 2) integration of TB programme into public health services and, 3) greater co-operation with the IUAT. The operational approaches to achieving the goals include information and co-operation, for instance, in amending TB legislation, practical work directed towards patients and scientific activity. The various anti-TB activities of the Association conducted with the State Medical Board such as the BCG programme, radiophotographic programme and other independent activities of the Association are described.

The experience of the Korean National TB Association (KNTA) in fighting TB provides some useful insights on the role of voluntary associations. It is recommended that, similar to the KNTA, voluntary associations in other developing countries should cultivate intimate working relations with their respective governments. While the KNTA invested sizable financial inputs into critical sectors of the TB project at the government’s request, the latter greatly assisted KNTA’s fund-raising effort. KNTA found that people contributed more freely if they could see visible proof, immediately, and on a sufficiently large scale, of their money being utilized for their good. It is urged that voluntary associations must constantly improve to be an example to others.

Since 1850, voluntary organisations have largely benefited victims of TB. In India, the joint family system provided comfort and protection to the TB patient. However, there is an increased awareness for the patient to receive such protection and assistance from society as evidenced by the popularity of sanatoriums and other types of care provided outside homes and families. Christian missionaries took the initial step in providing systematised care of the tuberculous in India followed by several non-governmental efforts. The formation of the TAI in 1939 was a welcome centralised move on an all-India basis which also served as a link to international TB organisations. The Government of India provided active support to all voluntary activities in the country while evolving statutory TB services. The launching of the NTP in India was a turning point in the co-existence of government and voluntary agencies in the common fight against TB. The NTP’s approach to consider TB as one of many illnesses to be overcome within the GHS mobilised the services of thousands of health workers throughout the country. As the government exercises statutory powers over increasing areas of social services, there is a need for reappraisal of the concept and activities of the voluntary organisation. New ways by which the voluntary organisations can support the NTP, particularly, with the emphasis on domiciliary treatment, are recommended.

The first section of this chapter is devoted to a brief description of the historical background of TB associations world-wide. The rest of the chapter is concerned with the genesis and activities of the TAI. TAI’s noteworthy include the annual organisation of conferences of the TB and Chest Diseases Workers in different parts of India, the regular programme of health education activities conducted from its inception, the starting of the IJTB, a quarterly that is globally respected, and the setting up of the Technical Committee to review questions relating to the teaching of TB at various stages of medical education. Above all, the most effective and outstanding contribution by TAI has been the TB Seal Sale Campaign, started in 1950 and conducted during Oct. 2 - Jan. 26, every year. This Campaign has been the single, sweeping, all-India propaganda effort with potentialities to involve the masses in the anti-TB movement and canvass their full participation in implementing the National Control Programme. Every year, the people of India buy over 30 million TB Seals on an average and use them on their mail, though the seals have no postal value. It is suggested that the TAI take up a wide variety of measures including serving as watch-dogs of official programmes, determining the community’s needs concerning TB control, educating the public to promote domiciliary treatment and to reduce drug-default.