Annual Report: Year 1 (May 1, 2011 – February 29, 2012)

The project is supported by the USAID and is implemented by the KNCV Representative Office in Central Asia. In Year 1, the project was implemented in four oblasts of Kazakhstan: East-Kazakhstan, North-Kazakhstan, Akmola, and South-Kazakhstan. The project focuses on eight technical areas: Universal Access, Laboratories, Infection Control, Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant TB (PMDT), TB/HIV, Health System Strengthening (HSS), Monitoring & Evaluation, Surveillance and Operational Research (M&E), and Drug Supply Management. The project has achieved significant milestones in these areas, including the development of a GeneXpert MTB/Rif implementation plan, the establishment of a thematic working group on TB-IC, and the development of PMDT action plans. In the Laboratory area, the project has made significant progress in implementing GeneXpert MTB/Rif technology. A GeneXpert MTB/Rif implementation plan was developed, and diagnostic algorithms and clinical protocols were adjusted for pilot sites. The project also developed recording and reporting forms for GeneXpert MTB/Rif and drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) for the implementation of Xpert in Kazakhstan. In the Infection Control area, the project established a thematic working group on TB-IC and provided technical assistance in the development of national TB-IC guidelines and assessment tools. The project also provided technical assistance in the development of a national TB-IC plan, which was submitted to the Ministry of Health (MoH) for approval. In the PMDT area, the project conducted PMDT assessments in four project sites and developed PMDT action plans, which were approved and signed in three oblasts. The project also drafted PMDT protocols in accordance with the latest World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. In the TB/HIV area, the project provided technical assistance for the revision of the national TB-HIV policy and updated the national TB-HIV order in line with the latest WHO recommendations. The project also developed a national TB-HIV plan for the period 2012-2013, which was submitted to the MoH for approval. In the HSS area, the project initiated the establishment of a patient support system in two oblasts and provided psychosocial support to 243 TB/MDR-TB patients in East Kazakhstan oblast. The project also revised a tool for assessing social support and sent it to new project sites to collect information about the provision of social support. In the M&E area, the project trained 106 specialists in data collection, recording, and reporting from prison and civil TB services of four project sites. The project also revised recording and reporting forms and developed an algorithm for reporting systems for electronic surveillance. In the Drug Management area, the project conducted a three-day training for specialists responsible for forecasting TB drug needs in four project sites. The project also achieved 100% completion in the technical areas of Universal Access, Laboratories, Infection Control, PMDT, TB/HIV, and Drug Supply Management. The project has also collected baseline data for TB CARE I indicators, including the development of a national laboratory strategic plan, the coverage of SLD treatment in civil and prison sectors, and the number of children put on MDR TB treatment in accordance with international guidelines. The project has achieved significant progress in these areas, including an increase in coverage with SLD treatment in the civil sector and an increase in the detection of MDR TB in children.