Erase TB Quarterly Report FY 2021 Quarter 1: October 01 - December 31, 2020

The project aims to improve access to TB care, strengthen the capacity of local organizations to engage in the TB response, and accelerate declines in TB incidence. The activity is implemented by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Vietnam, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project focuses on four work packages: ENHANCE, REPORT, ASSIST, and SWEEP. ENHANCE aims to improve early TB detection and treatment of patients by screening household members and close contacts of TB patients using the 'Double-X' strategy. REPORT seeks to increase service quality and reporting by private sector providers through TB screening and treatment reporting. ASSIST provides social support to TB households to reduce the social and financial burden on TB patients. SWEEP implements community-based mobile chest X-ray screening and Xpert testing to improve access to TB services. The project also includes a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) work package, which aims to ensure data-driven decisions and maximize TB yields and population-level impact. The M&E work package involves the collection and analysis of project data, as well as the promotion of learning and knowledge sharing among stakeholders. As of the reporting period, October 1 to December 31, 2020, the project has achieved significant results. A total of 48,339 people were screened with chest X-ray, exceeding the cumulative target of 20,368. The number of people diagnosed with TB was 1,929, which is 213.4% of the cumulative target of 904. The number of people initiated on TB treatment was 1,887, which is 210.1% of the cumulative target of 898. The project has also made progress in evaluating household contacts for active or latent TB, with a total of 1,633 household contacts evaluated, exceeding the cumulative target of 965. However, the number of household contacts initiated on preventive treatment was 0, which is 0.0% of the cumulative target of 450. The project has also provided social support to TB patients, with a total of 111 TB patients enrolled in social support schemes, exceeding the cumulative target of 40. The project has achieved significant results in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, with Ha Noi achieving 725.0% of the target for TB patients enrolled in social support schemes and Ho Chi Minh City achieving 165.6% of the target. The project's overall goal is to accelerate the reduction of TB incidence in the intervention areas towards the United Nations High Level Meeting (UN HLM) commitments and the end TB targets declared in the National Strategy by the Government of Viet Nam. The project aims to achieve this goal by increasing notification among under-diagnosed TB patients, improving access to TB care, and strengthening the capacity of local organizations to engage in the TB response. The project's implementation is led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Vietnam, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project's success will depend on the continued support of stakeholders, including the Government of Viet Nam, local organizations, and the private sector.