TB CARE I - Vietnam Year 3 Quarterly Report January-March 2013

The project focuses on eight technical areas, including universal and early access, laboratories, infection control, PMDT, TB/HIV, health systems strengthening, M&E, OR and surveillance, and drug supply and management. As of the end of the first quarter of Year 3, the project has achieved 31% completion in universal and early access, 33% in laboratories, 25% in infection control, 39% in PMDT, 25% in TB/HIV, 28% in health systems strengthening, 20% in M&E, OR and surveillance, and 19% in drug supply and management. One of the key achievements of the project is the management of TB in children. In collaboration with the Vietnam National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) and Thai Binh Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital, KNCV organized training classes on the new approach of managing TB in children, including diagnosis at the district level and management of child contacts at the commune level. The training classes were provided for NTP staff, pediatricians, and doctors in general and pediatric hospitals, as well as commune health workers in 196 communes. A monitoring and supervision mission was conducted by an international consultant, KNCV, and NTP staff to evaluate the progress of child TB activities in the pilot provinces since the end of 2012 and provide feedback. In the laboratory area, TB CARE I organized two trainings on Xpert MTB/RIF pilot implementation for doctors of HIV OPDs in HCMC and Can Tho in March. In collaboration with NTP, TB CARE I partners (KNCV, WHO, and MSH) conducted joint monitoring and supervision visits on the pilot implementation of Xpert MTB/RIF in six pilot sites in three southern provinces. As of March 2013, 3,440 tests were done for three targeted groups (MDR suspects, PLWHA suspected having TB, and children suspected having TB). Among these tests, 50.9% were MTB and 17.2% were Rifampicin resistant. In the TBIC area, three remaining districts in HCMC have completed the proposed TBIC facility plans, which will be considered for approval by PNTH and NTP and implemented in the next quarters. The proposal for the development of IEC materials for TBIC for healthcare workers and community has been developed and approved by NTP. NTP has adapted the data collection form for TBIC indicators and sent it out to 67 sites in 63 provinces across the nation. 97% (65 centers) provided responses, and draft analysis is being made by the Project consultant. The implementation of e-TB manager has been happening in 12 treatment sites (93% of the total 13), in central NTP, and 44 district TB Units (DTUs), with a total of 57 health units (approximately 6.2% of district health units) using e-TB manager on a regular basis. E-TB manager is gradually being used as a routine task for all staff from all health units. The scale-up of e-TB manager shall be considered later upon the performance and results of the pilot implementation. In the TB/HIV area, an agreement between VAAC and KNCV has been reached for activities related to the updating of national guidelines and updating of training curriculum and materials on TB/HIV collaborative activities for being implemented nationwide. The draft outlines of guidelines and training materials have been achieved. The overall work plan completion reached 28% for the first two quarters of Year 3. Preparations for acceleration in quarter 3 are done, but not yet reflected in the work plan completion. Technical and administrative challenges include obtaining adequate human resources for project implementation, particularly for drug supply and management area. MSH country office has implemented the recruitment process for this position. The TB Round 9 Phase 2 grant was signed on April 20, 2013, with a total amount of up to USD 36,240,508. The new funding model, Vietnam TB, is selected as an interim applicant with an indicative funding amount of US$7 million for the transition period (2013-2014). The PR is waiting to be contacted by the GF to initiate the negotiation (concept note, etc.).