Cambodia Year 1 Quarterly Report April - June 2011

The program aimed to improve access to TB diagnosis and treatment for high-risk populations, including prisoners and children. Key interventions included the expansion of TB/HIV services in prisons and the provision of childhood TB services in operational districts. Implementation challenges arose due to the ongoing national TB prevalence survey, which occupied several CENAT staff members. As a result, joint activities such as supervision and peer review were delayed. Additionally, new activities planned for 2011, including procurement and recruitment of new staff, were delayed due to unavoidable circumstances. The program achieved several milestones, including the establishment of a childhood TB working group, which held its first meeting in May 2011. The group aimed to strengthen childhood TB care and treatment in Cambodia. The program also facilitated the revision of Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) guidelines, which will include TB and HIV protocols for the first time. In terms of technical outcomes, the program reported progress in several areas. The number of TB patients reported in prisons increased from 3% to 1.2% of the total number of prisoners in project sites. The program also achieved its target of improving diagnostic capacity for smear-negative TB patients, with 85% of x-rays judged to have been read correctly by diagnostic committees. However, the program faced challenges in several areas, including the implementation of TB-IC measures at Health Centres and Communities, where only 0% of HCs had trained staff on TB-Infection Control. The program also struggled to establish a formal system for reporting MDR cases to the NTP, making it difficult to obtain consistent information. The program's quarterly activity plan report highlighted several outcomes, including the development of a strategic plan for active case finding and related M&E framework. The program also drafted guidelines and Standard Operating Procedure for active case finding, including related M&E framework. The report noted that the program had achieved 100% cumulative completion of its approved budget for the quarter. In terms of geographic focus, the program operated in various provinces across Cambodia, with a focus on improving access to TB care and treatment for high-risk populations. The program's timeframes and recommendations were not explicitly stated in the report, but it is likely that the program aimed to continue its activities throughout 2011 and beyond.