Episode 1: The Beginning
The first episode follows a zama-zama miner, Vusi Hlatswayo, a patient diagnosed with TB who runs away from the hospital to attend a friend's funeral so he can get his share of money earned on the job with his friend.
On his way to the funeral he infects people in the taxi who are featured in later episodes of the series - this episode takes us on a journey with TB symptoms and all we need to know about the curable disease.
Episode 2: The Message
In the second episode, a community pastor notices the numerous deaths in his church, mostly TB-related. He decides to dedicate a sermon to all members of his church that will educate them on TB with the help of a nurse from the local TB clinic.
Spreading awareness and education is key in the fight against TB.
Episode 3: The Forgotten Ones
KZN has the highest number of TB deaths in South Africa. Getting to a medical facility is a challenge for many communities who live in mountainous rural areas that are more than 20km away from the nearest medical facility.
Ntombikayise was raised by her grandfather - both her parents passed away and the only family member she has left is her Grandfather Bab' Dube.
Bab' Dube has been sick for several weeks, losing weight, night sweats and a constant cough that won't seem to go away. Being a traditional man he has sought help from local traditional healers and prophets with no improvement to his health. Ntombikayise has seen people die in her community who refuse to get help from a clinic or hospital.
Desperate and terrified of her grandfather dying she decides to take a journey over mountains, rivers and dangerous wildlife to get to a nearest mobile clinic so her grandfather can get medical help.
Episode 4: #TBISREAL
Tumi and Bontle are young, ambitious, university students with bright futures. They are the popular couple at varsity because Tumi is a DJ who is well liked amongst his peers.
Tumi has been losing a lot of weight lately and the effects of the rumours and gossip spread on social media leaves his girlfriend worried that he might be sick.
This episodes shows once again that TB does not discriminate when it comes to gender, race or age.
In this episode aimed at millenials, the youth and young adults who live their life on social media, the episode highlights the hashtag #TBISREAL and brings the realities of this illness to young people in South Africa.