Stories that drive change in communities do not always come from large conferences or lengthy reports. Sometimes, they begin in the simplest ways, from a short video recorded on a mobile phone, capturing the everyday work of people who quietly walk alongside patients in their own communities.

As part of a TikTok content creation contest initiated by SCDI in response to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, members of the Community System to End TB (CSET) from different provinces across Viet Nam shared their own stories. Through these videos, they documented daily activities such as conducting TB screening, supporting community members to access health insurance, accompanying patients to health facilities for follow-up visits, and visiting patients’ homes to check on their health and remind them to take medication regularly.

What connected all of these videos was not professional filming techniques, but authenticity. Each video offered a real-life snapshot of community work: a small group discussion at a village cultural house, a long journey accompanying a patient for a chest X-ray, or a simple explanation of why health insurance is so critical for people affected by TB.

By drawing from their own lived experiences, CSET members helped viewers understand that TB is not “someone else’s problem.” Early detection and timely treatment, supported by the crucial role of health insurance, are essential not only for individual health, but also for protecting the wider community.

Many videos focused on topics that can seem technical or distant, such as TB symptoms, the benefits of health insurance, or the importance of early screening. Instead of using medical terminology, these messages were shared in familiar language, local voices, and real stories from villages and neighborhoods. In this way, the concept of Universal Health Coverage became more accessible: when people receive clear information and timely support from trusted community members, healthcare feels more accessible and less overwhelming.

Beyond raising awareness, the contest also created space for reflection and growth among CSET members themselves. From early videos that felt hesitant to later ones delivered with greater confidence and clarity, the process highlighted their development in communication skills, storytelling, and understanding of their own role in TB prevention and care. Across the videos, CSET members emerged not only as outreach workers, but as trusted companions—walking with patients from moments of fear and uncertainty toward treatment and recovery.

The submitted videos came from many localities, including Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Nghe An, Hai Phong, and Ho Chi Minh City, together forming a diverse picture of community-led efforts to end TB. Each story reaffirmed the essential role of communities in reducing stigma, closing gaps in access to care, and advancing more inclusive health systems.

Through this TikTok contest, work that often remains unseen became visible, and community voices were heard more widely. This reflects the core approach of SCDI and the CSET network: placing communities at the center, and enabling them to tell their own stories, in their own ways. 

A full collection of videos submitted to the CSET TikTok Contest is available (in Vietnamese), featuring stories shared by community members across different provinces. These videos continue to carry a simple but powerful message: caring for health begins with understanding, trust, and the strength of community.

Video by Ms. Nay H Hương – a member of the Community System to End TB (CSET) in Đắk Lắk – sharing insights on the benefits of health insurance for people affected by TB. Watch the video HERE 

Video by Ms. Dương Thị Thảo – a CSET member in Đắk Lắk – sharing about the quiet journeys of CSET members: “Starting a little earlier so more people can be protected from TB.” Watch the video HERE

Video by Mr. Lô Văn Nhất – a CSET member in Nghệ An – sharing information about the symptoms of tuberculosis. Watch the video HERE

Video by Ms. Ksor H’Duyên – a CSET member in Gia Lai – sharing about TB and her personal journey supporting people affected by the disease. Watch the video HERE

Video by Mr. Lộc Văn Hai – a CSET member in Nghệ An – sharing his journey of supporting people affected by TB. Watch the video HERE 

Video by Ms. Đỗ Thị Nguyệt – a CSET member in Đắk Lắk – sharing the message: “TB is not someone else’s problem.” Watch the video HERE 

Video by Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thơ – a CSET member in Đắk Lắk – sharing her journey supporting patients and contributing to TB prevention at the community level. Watch the video HERE 

Video by Mr. Kpanhin – a CSET member in Gia Lai – sharing his journey of supporting patients and helping push back TB in the community. Watch the video HERE

Video by Mr. Phan Văn Sửu – a CSET member in Gia Lai – sharing his journey supporting patients and contributing to TB prevention in the community. Watch the video HERE

Video by Ms. Nguyễn Thanh Nga – a CSET member in Đắk Lắk – sharing about TB and reminding everyone: “Please take care of your health and go for screening to detect TB early.” Watch the video HERE

Video by Ms. Mạc Hồng – a CSET member in Nghệ An – sharing about community-based activities supporting patients and working to end TB. Watch the video HERE

Video by Ms. Rơ Ô H’Yoa – a CSET member in Gia Lai – sharing a home visit to support a person undergoing TB treatment. Watch the video HERE 

Video by Mr. Ngọc Văn – a CSET member in Đắk Lắk – sharing his journey supporting patients and contributing to TB prevention in the community. Watch the video HERE

Video by Ms. Dương Thụy Thủy Vy – a CSET member in Ho Chi Minh City – sharing her journey as a CSET member supporting patients and contributing to ending TB at the community level. Watch the video HERE

Video by Mr. Lý Tiến Dũng – a CSET member in Đắk Lắk – sharing his journey supporting patients and contributing to TB prevention in the community, with the message: “Facing difficulties but never backing down, for the health of the community.” Watch the video HERE 

Video by Ms. Thảo Tâm – a CSET member in Đắk Lắk – sharing her story of supporting patients and contributing to TB prevention in the community. Watch the video HERE

Video by Mr. Nguyễn Minh Quân – a CSET member in Hải Phòng – sharing information about common symptoms of tuberculosis. Watch the video HERE

Video by Ms. Gương – a CSET member in Đắk Lắk – sharing her journey supporting patients and contributing to TB prevention in the community. Watch the video HERE
“Through this video, Gương would like to send a message to everyone: ‘Always take care of your own health and the health of your family.”

Personal story shared by a mother about her own TB treatment journey. Watch the video HERE 

Video by Hoàng Linh – a community group member in Ninh Bình – sharing key signs and symptoms of pulmonary TB. Watch the video HERE 

Video by Mr. Huỳnh – from The Gate community group in Ho Chi Minh City – sharing about health insurance and TB. Watch the video HERE 

Video by Mr. Võ Phước Thắng – a member of The Gate community group in Ho Chi Minh City. Watch the video HERE.