TB CARE I and PEPFAR - ZIMBABWE Annual Report

The program's goal was to provide policy direction and coordinate program implementation, as well as strengthen human resource capacity to provide TB and TB/HIV services at the service delivery level in 5 rural provinces. The program was led by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV) as collaborating partners. A total budget of $4,443,000 was allocated for the project, consisting of TB CARE I ($3,493,000) and PEPFAR ($950,000). The program achieved several significant milestones, including the establishment of a fully functional sputum transport system in 5 targeted rural districts. This resulted in a doubling of the number of TB suspects with a sputum examination in the 5 districts, from 1244 in the 3rd quarter to 2525 in the 4th quarter. The program also mobilized 1036 community TB treatment supporters in 10 districts, which will inform the development of a standard national community TB treatment support program. Additionally, PMDT guidelines were developed for the first time, covering a major gap in the programmatic management of drug-resistant TB. The first national course in the clinical management of multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB was conducted for 31 clinicians from all 8 provinces and 3 main cities, providing clinical capacity at provincial levels for the management of MDR TB. The program also initiated the roll-out of integrated care for persons with TB and HIV co-infection, following a successful pilot conducted by The Union's HIV Care for TB Patients Living with HIV (IHC) project. Thirteen integrated care clinics were established in 9 urban areas, and lessons learned from these clinics will inform further expansion on a wider scale. The program also provided support supervision, with a total of 12 support supervisors trained to provide technical assistance to health facilities. The program's financial overview indicates that the total budget of $4,443,000 was allocated for the project, with TB CARE I contributing $3,493,000 and PEPFAR contributing $950,000. The program's achievements and major activities are summarized below, highlighting the significant progress made in strengthening TB control in Zimbabwe. The sputum transport system's introduction resulted in a significant increase in TB case finding, with a doubling of the number of TB suspects with a sputum examination in the 5 districts. The program also made significant progress in programmatic management of drug-resistant TB, with the development of PMDT guidelines and the conduct of the first national course in the clinical management of MDR TB. The program's efforts in TB/HIV care also showed significant progress, with the establishment of 13 integrated care clinics in 9 urban areas. The program's achievements in health systems strengthening, including support supervision and the training of 12 support supervisors, demonstrate the program's commitment to building capacity at the service delivery level. The program's financial overview indicates that the total budget of $4,443,000 was allocated for the project, with TB CARE I contributing $3,493,000 and PEPFAR contributing $950,000.