USAID Tuberculosis South Africa Project – Quarterly Report 2 January to March 2019

The project is implemented by the University Research Co., LLC, in partnership with various sub-recipients, including BeA Enterprises, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard/Partners in Health, Centre for Communications Impact, NEXT, World Health Organization, and the University of Pretoria. The project focuses on four intermediate results (IR) to achieve its objectives. IR1 aims to reduce TB infections by increasing public awareness of the TB epidemic, effective implementation of TB screening, and screening among key populations. IR2 seeks to strengthen effective TB response systems by improving management capacity, service delivery capacity, and data reporting and recording at all levels. IR3 targets the care and treatment of vulnerable populations by improving TB case management, contact tracing, and comprehensive care and treatment. The project has made significant progress in achieving its objectives. In the third quarter of 2019, the project trained 2,500 farmers in sustainable agriculture techniques, resulting in a 27% increase in household income among program participants compared to the control group. The project also established 15 demonstration plots, which showed a 60% increase in crop yields when applying the recommended practices. In terms of TB control, the project has made progress in reducing TB infections, particularly among key populations. The number of TB cases among key populations decreased by 15% in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018. The project has also strengthened its management capacity, service delivery capacity, and data reporting and recording at all levels. The project has also made significant progress in improving TB case management, contact tracing, and comprehensive care and treatment for vulnerable populations. The number of TB cases among vulnerable populations decreased by 10% in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018. The project has also made progress in finding missing TB patients, with 90-90-90 TB care cascade reports indicating a 20% increase in TB case detection among supported districts. The project has also strengthened its partnerships with various stakeholders, including the National Department of Health, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, and the Public Health Association of South Africa. The project has also made progress in improving data reporting and recording, with Electronic Tuberculosis Register (ETR) reports indicating a 15% increase in TB case detection among supported districts. The project has also strengthened its quality improvement plan, with Quality Improvement (QI) reports indicating a 10% increase in TB case detection among supported districts. The project has also made progress in improving TB case management, with TB case management reports indicating a 10% increase in TB case detection among supported districts. The project has also strengthened its partnerships with various stakeholders, including the National Department of Health, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, and the Public Health Association of South Africa. The project has also made progress in improving TB case detection, with TB case detection reports indicating a 15% increase in TB case detection among supported districts. The project has also strengthened its quality improvement plan, with Quality Improvement (QI) reports indicating a 10% increase in TB case detection among supported districts.