Strengthening Tuberculosis Control in Ukraine: Year 4 Quarter 1

The project is implemented by Chemonics International in partnership with Project HOPE and the Global Tuberculosis Institute (GTBI) at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Key accomplishments in the first quarter of year 4 (October 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015) include the development of national policies on TB control, including a strategy and action plan for sustaining achievements after 2017 and a concept for the new National TB Control Program for Ukraine 2017-2021. The project also contributed to the development of a new clinical protocol on HIV/AIDS and the National Unified Protocol on TB Management in Children. Training and technical assistance were provided to 83 participants on TB detection, diagnostics, and case management, and 554 healthcare workers received on-the-job technical assistance related to TB diagnostics, treatment, and case management. The project continued piloting the outpatient care model in Kryvyi Rih, which showed promising results, including a 37% increase in enrollment of TB patients in DOT provision at primary health care facilities. The project also supported the development of online activities through the Dnipropetrovsk Center of Excellence (CoE) website and conducted joint visits with the Ukrainian Center for Socially Dangerous Disease Control (UCDC) laboratory specialists to monitor TB test quality control. Additionally, the project provided technical support to 19 level-one laboratories in six regions and supported the development of infection control plans for healthcare facilities. In terms of advocacy, communications, and social mobilization, the project supported the development of a website to boost morale of people with TB and their relatives, and three grant agreements for ACSM activities were signed and launched. The project also supported operational research activities, including the distribution of patient diaries, counseling services, and TB informational materials to TB patients and their families. The project's infection control specialist participated in the preparation of the Law on Healthcare Facilities and Medical Services, which will strictly regulate modern standards of infection control in healthcare facilities. The specialist also conducted mentoring visits to seven healthcare facilities, providing information on TB infection control and implementation of standard operating procedures.