TB CARE Annual Work Plan and Budget

The Challenge TB (CTB) project, led by Management Sciences for Health (MSH), has been instrumental in supporting the NTP's activities. The project's work plan for the period of October 2015 to September 2016 focuses on improving TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. One of the significant achievements of the CTB project during the first quarter of 2016 was the organization of World TB Day. This year, the event was commemorated differently, with school youth from disadvantaged populations developing their own creative TB awareness activities. The event was supported by CTB and the local branch of the Salvation Army, and it marked the start of a countrywide systematic engagement of school youth in TB awareness activities. Another notable achievement was the introduction of GxAlert, a system that connects GeneXpert machines to the internet, allowing for offsite device monitoring and improving coordination and management. The system will also provide quick feedback of results to patients, referring clinicians, and treatment centers, which will improve TB treatment. The initial implementation of GxAlert in Bangladesh will begin in APA2, and the landscape assessment conducted by CTB has provided concrete recommendations and insights to pave the way for systematic implementation. The CTB project has also facilitated the formation of a budget mobilization caucus to address the issue of sustainable TB financing in Bangladesh. The caucus, chaired by the Line Director, will review the TB financing situation in Bangladesh, advocate for increased TB financing, and build the capacity of the NTP in accessing funds. In addition, the CTB project has supported its grantees in accelerating the implementation of their activities. Seven of eight CTB sub-grantees had been reimbursed for the activities they conducted in the last quarter, following CTB's successful registration with the NGO Affairs Bureau in January. The Bangladesh Pediatric Association (BPA) has rolled out its childhood TB training package in the Sylhet division, and the Bangladesh Diabetic Somity (BADAS) has developed a pool of 11 Master Trainers who have conducted orientation for 80 data collectors from affiliated centers. The CTB project has also started planning for advocacy, communication, and social mobilization (ACSM) activities, engaging all stakeholders in the process. The project has organized multiple orientation sessions for field staff on TB screening and referral of presumptive cases, and has strengthened activities related to contact investigation and isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT). Overall, the CTB project has made significant progress in supporting the NTP's efforts to combat TB in Bangladesh. The project's achievements in organizing World TB Day, introducing GxAlert, facilitating sustainable TB financing, and supporting its grantees in accelerating the implementation of their activities demonstrate its commitment to improving TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in the country. The project's work in strengthening advocacy, communication, and social mobilization (ACSM) activities, as well as its efforts to improve TB screening and referral of presumptive cases, will continue to be crucial in the coming months. The CTB project's success in implementing its activities will depend on its ability to maintain momentum and build on its achievements to date. The CTB project's quarterly report highlights the progress made in the first quarter of 2016, but it also notes that there are still challenges to be addressed. The project's grantees continue to face challenges in accessing funds, and the NTP still faces challenges in accessing the funds set aside for them in the Operational Plan (OP). The project's budget mobilization caucus will continue to work to address these challenges and ensure that TB costs, particularly first-line drugs and human resources, are covered.