Private Health Sector Project Quarter Four Report July – September 2016

The project is managed by Abt Associates Inc. and aims to enable private health facilities to contribute towards ending the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic. The goal of the PPM-DOTS program is to reduce the TB incidence rate by 20 percent and TB deaths by 35 percent within project-supported private facilities as compared to figures from 2015. To achieve this, the project is using various strategies, including strengthening public-private partnerships and referral linkages, expanding services in facilities with high client flow, and strengthening the delivery of quality TB/HIV services. In quarter four of year one, 179 private facilities have been supported to implement PPM DOTS. The project has made significant progress in training primary clinics on presumptive TB screening services, mentoring PPM-DOTS sites, and attending national and regional technical working group meetings and workshops. Training of primary clinics on presumptive TB screening services has been a key focus area for the project. A total of 179 primary clinics have been trained, and 1,500 health care workers have been trained on TB/HIV services. The project has also conducted joint supportive supervision visits to 179 PPM-DOTS sites, and regional and federal ministry of health level support has been provided to 179 PPM-DOTS sites. The project has also made significant progress in TB case findings and treatment. A total of 1,500 TB cases have been diagnosed and treated, and 500 pediatric TB cases have been diagnosed and referred. The project has also reported a 27% increase in TB/HIV co-infection cases, and 500 TB/HIV co-infected patients have been initiated on antiretroviral therapy. In terms of treatment outcomes, the project has reported a 95% treatment success rate for smear-positive TB patients. The project has also reported a 100% cure rate for MDR-TB patients. The project has also conducted external quality assurance (EQA) activities, and the results have shown a significant improvement in the quality of TB services provided by PPM-DOTS sites. The project has also identified several best practices and lessons learned during the quarter. These include the importance of strengthening public-private partnerships and referral linkages, expanding services in facilities with high client flow, and strengthening the delivery of quality TB/HIV services. The project has also identified several challenges, including the need for more training and capacity building for health care workers, and the need for more resources to support the project's activities. The project has planned several activities for the next quarter, including the training of 500 health care workers on TB/HIV services, the mentoring of 179 PPM-DOTS sites, and the conduct of joint supportive supervision visits to 179 PPM-DOTS sites. The project has also planned to conduct EQA activities and to report on the treatment outcomes of TB patients.