Challenge TB – Call to Action for A TB-Free India Annual Report (Oct. 1, 2014 – Sept. 30, 2015)

The project aimed to mobilize a wide range of stakeholders to build political will and leadership to end TB in India and increase visibility for TB through a Call to Action campaign. Within the first year of implementation, the project secured the support of the Government of India, with the backing of influential leaders across different sectors, including the US Ambassador to India, Mr. Richard Verma, and renowned Indian cinema superstar, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. The project kicked off with a high-profile launch by Shri J.P. Nadda, Honourable Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, on April 23, 2015, at New Delhi. The launch was attended by over 250 participants, including senior officials of the MoHFW, USAID, WHO, the Global Fund, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Stop TB Partnership, World Bank, and key national associations, NGOs, patient advocates, eminent journalists, leaders, and experts on tuberculosis. All guests expressed their support to the Call to Action by signing on the 'Wall of Commitment'. The launch received a total of 70 plus media articles in national and international media, establishing the Government's commitment and leadership in leading the Call to Action and engaging with multiple stakeholders. The Call to Action campaign aimed to bring all key stakeholders together for a high-visibility Call to Action Summit in March 2016. The project also organized a consultation attended by over 100 participants, including senior officials from the MoHFW, USAID, WHO, and other key stakeholders. The consultation aimed to discuss the key issues and challenges in TB control in India and identify strategies to address them. The project also implemented an assessment of TB care and management services in Tibetan settlements in India, conducted by The Union. The assessment aimed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the existing TB care and management services in Tibetan settlements and provide recommendations for improvement. In addition, the project implemented an intervention to improve quality of TB diagnosis among children in four cities, implemented by FIND. The intervention aimed to improve the quality of TB diagnosis among children in these cities and reduce the burden of TB among this vulnerable population. The obligated amount for Challenge TB (CTB) India was USD 5.1 million for two years. The project was implemented by a coalition of nine partners, with KNCV as the prime recipient. The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) was tasked to lead the Challenge TB project in India. The project's key achievements included securing the support of the Government of India, mobilizing influential leaders across different sectors, and organizing a high-profile launch and consultation. The project also implemented an assessment of TB care and management services in Tibetan settlements and an intervention to improve quality of TB diagnosis among children in four cities. The project's success was attributed to the strong partnership between The Union, the Government of India, and other key stakeholders. The project's achievements demonstrated the potential of collaborative efforts to address the complex challenges of TB control in India.