Working together against stigmatization: Workshop on communicating about tuberculosis and migration in Berlin
How do we talk about health, migration, and a highly stigmatized disease such as tuberculosis? On January 20 and 21, 2026, an interdisciplinary workshop was held in Berlin to develop new, fact-based, and appreciative approaches to public communication.
Tuberculosis (TB) remains the most common fatal infectious disease worldwide. In Germany, TB is less common and often affects people who find themselves in difficult life situations. Social problems, often related to migration, often make it difficult to complete a full six-month course of treatment. The No1Lost project aims to improve the rate of successful treatment completion through social and medical support. However, medical assistance alone is often not enough when social barriers and prejudices stand in the way.
Changing narratives: Moving away from exclusion
Current communication about TB, for example, is characterized by stigmatizing narratives. Terms such as "control," "suspicion," and "combating" often reflect an authoritarian understanding that fuels mistrust and places responsibility solely on those affected ("victim blaming").
During the workshop, experts from the fields of medicine, social sciences, journalism, and science communication exchanged ideas on what communication could look like that:
- is fact-based and closer to the reality of those affected,
- does not stigmatize or cause harm,
- exposes and counteracts discriminatory and dehumanizing discourse.
Concrete results for practical application
The aim of the two-day exchange was to lay the foundations for a concept paper in the form of a guide or policy brief. These documents are intended to provide practical recommendations and examples of responsible language.
Another reason for holding the workshop was the imminent publication of new S3 guidelines on "Tuberculosis prevention among newly arrived immigrants," which were developed by the DZK in cooperation with the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and in collaboration with other professional associations. The participants engaged in intensive discussions on how public communication on this guideline can be designed in such a way that it conveys narratives of health promotion rather than narratives of risk.
We would like to thank everyone involved for their valuable input and look forward to presenting the results of this process shortly.
