USAID ETB Project Success Story: Rationalizing of HR TB care and management issues in the NTP

Funded by USAID, the project operates in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, the National Tuberculosis Program, the private sector, and other stakeholders at national, provincial, district, and community levels. One of the key objectives of the project is to strengthen human resources to improve the management, accessibility, and quality of TB services. The project addresses the human resource crisis in Zambia's health sector, which is characterized by high staff attrition, understaffing, overworked staff, crowded health facilities, and limited in-service training opportunities. To address these challenges, the Eradicate TB Project and the National Tuberculosis Program conducted a national TB human resources rapid review workshop in Kabwe. The workshop assessed NTP core functions, tasks, positions, and staffing levels, reviewed staff orientation and training systems, and examined supervision plans, tools, and processes. Participants in the workshop developed plans to address priority issues and strengthen HR management and development systems for TB control at national, provincial, and district levels. The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Jabbin Mulwanda, emphasized the importance of improving NTP's organizational structure, staffing, training, and supervision systems to ensure quality TB service delivery. He stressed the need for a documented and operationalized supervision process to improve NTP's performance and save lives. The National Tuberculosis Program endorsed the action plan aimed at improving TB human resource health issues, which will serve as a guide for 2018 aligned to the strategic plan. The development of the action plan demonstrates the high level of commitment from NTP, and it will be used as an evaluation yardstick. The project's success in addressing TB-related mortality and improving TB service delivery is contingent on the effective implementation of the action plan and the strengthening of HR management and development systems. The USAID ETB Project's efforts to address TB-related mortality in Zambia are critical to achieving the country's health goals. By strengthening human resources and improving TB service delivery, the project aims to reduce TB-related mortality by 50 percent by 2022. The project's success will have a positive impact on the health and well-being of the Zambian population, particularly in the areas of TB control and management.