Treatment Action Group | Community Materials on Drug-Resistant TB
9 September 2026
Community materials on drug-resistant TB produced by Treatment Action Group (TAG)
Treatment regimens for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) typically contain four or more drugs. These drugs are powerful and necessary for fighting the TB germ but they can also affect the body’s normal functions — these effects are known as “side effects”.
“The InSIDE Story on SIDE Effects During Treatment for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: What You Need to Know from Head to Toe” is a new suite of materials designed to build community treatment literacy on the side effects of medications used to treat DR-TB and to support community engagement in active drug safety monitoring and management (ADSM) initiatives.
This suite of new materials includes a Resource Book, an Activity Book, and a Wall Chart.
The Resource Book is designed to empower people undergoing treatment for drug-resistant TB to know the medications they are taking and to be active participants in their own care. The Resource Book walks readers through the body from “head to toe,” covering the side-effects of the TB medications on each organ system and how they are monitored and managed.
The Activity Book is intended to facilitate improved communication between people on DR-TB treatment and their healthcare providers. It includes strategies and tools to help people better describe and track their symptoms and their severity, and to prepare for consultations with their healthcare providers. It also includes activities to help people on DR-TB treatment to feel more centered and connected to their bodies.
The Wall Chart is a modern take on the classic anatomical poster you might see displayed in a doctor’s office. By highlighting the body parts affected by the TB medications, the Wall Chart prompts healthcare workers to ask questions about side-effects, their potential causes, and how they might be monitored and addressed.
You can access “The InSIDE Story on SIDE Effects” on the TAG site, where you can also find other community materials on drug-resistant TB now available in Amharic, Bahasa Indonesia, Hausa, Russian, and Zulu.
These resources have been produced as part of the Unitaid-funded ASCENT DR-TB project.
Source: Treatment Action Group
