TB NEWS Newsletter 2Nd Edit
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TB News Second Edition, November 2016 - ZIMBABWE CONDUCTS AN EXTERNAL TB PROGRAM REVIEW - ZIMBABWE ADOPTS A SHORT TREATMENT FOR MDR-TB INSIDE: - MADZIMAI VIOLA DEFIES CHURCH DOCTRINE AND SEEKS TREATMENT FOR DR-TB - INTRODUCING FLAVOURED TB FORMULATIONS FOR CHILDREN ... & more FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK elcome to the second edition of TB News, our own platform to tell TB stories from in and outside the country. I hope will shall find this edition as Winformative and exciting as the previous one. In the last half of 2016 we noted important milestones. We successfully conducted the TB Program External Review in June and an epidemiology assessment whose findings are going to inform the development of the next National Strategic Plan for the TB program for the period 2018 to 2020. The Global Fund (GF) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) was in country to review the TB grant implementation. The Ministry of Health and Child Care is the current Principal Recipient of the GF TB grant. In an effort to ensure treatment adherence and completion among pediatric TB cases, we will from January next year be introducing flavoured TB formulations for the treatment of Childhood TB. This is a welcome development to the country and most importantly to our TB patients. Dr Charles Sandy In this edition we carry a special feature of the voices from the community and our partners. It is noteworthy that we have cadres who are making various sacrifices in contributing towards ending TB in Zimbabwe. We recognize and appreciate all your efforts. As always we welcome your comments, contributions and views in making this newsletter a success. Lastly, the festive season is upon us, I would like to wish you all season's greetings and a happy New Year. Meet you in 2017 with yet another exciting edition of TB News!!! Editor THE TB NEWS TEAM Publisher: Ministry of Health & Child Care Chief Writers Contributors National Tuberculosis Control Program Andrew Nyambo Masimba Dube 5th Floor Kaguvi Building Paidamoyo Magaya Norma Mugwagwa P.O. CY 1122 Causeway Murambiwa Mahwe Harare, Zimbabwe Mkhokeli Ngwenya Email: [email protected] ZNNP+ Email: [email protected] DAPP Email: [email protected] IOM 2 INSIDE TB NEWS Meet the NTP Staff........................................................................................................................................... 4 Zimbabwe conducts an external TB program review......................................................................................... 5 Zimbabwe adopts a short treatment for MDR-TB .......................................................................................... 6 Breaking free: Madzimai Viola defies church doctrine and seeks treatment for DR-TB................................. 7 Introducing flavoured TB formulations for children ......................................................................................... 8 Strengthening TB data management through District Health Information Software Version 2 (DHIS2).......... 9 An innovative outreach approach to find missed TB cases in communities.................................................... 10 Collage of photos from the community during the outreach............................................................................ 11 Parliament commits to end tuberculosis in Zimbabwe.................................................................................... 12 DAPP supports TB-HIV patients in Mutasa District......................................................................................... 13 Making a difference in communities: Memory shares her experience in TB-HIV work................................... 14 ZNNP+ community structures play an important role fighting TB in Harare.................................................... 15 Commendable strides in TB infection control at Tongogara refugee camp.................................................... 16 United Kingdom pre-departure tuberculosis detection programme................................................................. 17 Kap survey reveals low knowledge about TB in communities......................................................................... 18 Photo montage................................................................................................................................................ 19 UPCOMING EVENTS AND COURSES Operational Research Course on Child Lung Health Singapore, Singapore — 13 February - 24 February 2017 http://www.theunion.org/what-we-do/courses/tb-and-mdr-tb/operational-research-course-on-child-lung-health World TB Day, March 24, 2017 Principles of Tuberculosis Care and Prevention: Translating Knowledge to Action Bulawayo, Zimbabwe — 27 March - 5 April 2017 http://www.theunion.org/what-we-do/courses/tb-and-mdr-tb 3 MEET THE NTP STAFF Dr Charles Sandy Deputy Director AIDS & TB Unit Mr Hebert Mutunzi TB Labs Coordinator Ms Patience Mugero Secretary Mr Masimba Dube TB Medicines Coordinator Mrs Chioniso Jumbe Admin & Finance Officer Dr Mkhokeli Dr Tawanda Dr Norma Dr Martin Ngwenya Mapuranga Mugwagwa Mapfurira PMDT Officer DOT & Training Officer PPM Officer TB/HIV Officer Mr Nicolas Siziba Monitoring & Mr Obert Mr David Mr Martin Evaluation Mrs Mbiriyawanda Munemo Matongera Officer Evangelista Finance Logistics Finance Basvi Assistant Officer Assistant Data Manager Mr Andrew Nyambo Advocacy, Communication & Social Mobilization Mr Richard Officer Shumbairerwa Admin Assistant Mr Kwenziweyinkosi Ndlovu Community TB Care Officer Mr Warren Ms Patricia Katete Mwangambako Mr Peter Shiri Driver Assistant Assistant Program Program Officer Officer (N-Region) (S-Region) 4 ZIMBABWE CONDUCTS AN EXTERNAL TB PROGRAM REVIEW Dr Chakaya- Lead Consultant External TB Review he National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) l The dwindling of the health care worker retention carried out an external program review in June, scheme calls for the MoHCC and her partners to go T2016. The overall objective was to take stock of into the emergency mode to identify and mobilize progress made in implementing the current National the resources required to sustain the scheme at TB Strategic Plan, to inform development of a follow- least in the medium term. on strategy. l There is need for optimal use of Xpert MTB / RIF as the initial test for all presumptive TB cases in high Key review findings and recommendations HIV endemic settings, strengthen Childhood TB diagnosis and strengthen contact investigation Overall the TB response in Zimbabwe is performing l To enhance the laboratory support towards well. universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) to all the people, it is recommended that clinical and Below are some of the key findings and laboratory efficiencies are enhanced through recommendations from the exercise: adequate investments in the national sputum l The TB response depends highly on external transport system including eHealth innovations resources. There is need to progressively and information management system for real-time increase the proportion of financial resources for data capture and monitoring at the national level. the TB response that are mobilized from domestic l While the response to TB/HIV co-infection is sources. exemplary, there is need to review the IPT program l MoHCC was nominated the Principal Recipient to understand the barriers to implementation and (PR) for the TB and Malaria grants in the current then revise the program appropriately to enhance GF funding cycle. There is need to appraise all key its quality with careful phased expansion. players on GF processes and enhance l With a treatment success rate of 75%, the communication among all key players for treatment outcomes for DR-TB are among the best successful program implementation. to page 15 Dr Rudo Chikodzore administers a health facility Presentations during the External TB Review feedback meeting questionnaire to nurses during the field exercise 5 Breakthrough study demonstrates far shorter, more effective treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), ZIMBABWE ADOPTS A SHORT with majority cured. TREATMENT FOR MDR-TB By Dr M. Ngwenya Final results demonstrated nine-month ultidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a public health treatment had 82% crisis and a global health security risk carrying grave success rate, consequences for those affected. Zimbabwe is one of the 30 compared with previous M African countries with a triple burden of TB, TB/HIV and MDR-TB. In standard that required 2015 an estimated 1100 people developed MDR-TB in Zimbabwe. Out more than 20 of these, 468 cases were diagnosed and 433 were put on treatment. months of treatment and Standard treatment duration for MDR-TB is usually for 18 months or achieved cure rates below more. 55% Attempts to reduce the length of conventional MDR-TB regimens and to use a combination of drugs which is tolerable have been ongoing for several years. Recently, a standardized treatment regimen lasting less than 12 months was introduced for trials. It showed promising results in selected MDR-TB patients. Based on data from these trials, WHO Findings announced at updated its treatment guidelines for drug-resistant TB in May 2016 and 47th Union included a recommendation on the use of the shorter MDR-TB regimen World under specific conditions. Conference on Lung Health, Liverpool UK This new recommendation has a number of benefits: it is cheaper and costs less than $1,000 per patient and it also reduces patient loss due to decreased duration for treatment. However the regimen cannot be used yet in pregnancy