Tanzania
Tanzania ranks 14th among the world’s 22 countries with the largest TB burdens. Treatment success has slowly increased toward the World Health Organization (WHO) global target of 85 percent through improved quality of services and evaluation. Of the 130,606 new TB cases in 2004, 55,435 were sputum smear-positive (SS+). However, the detection rate for new SS+ TB cases remains low at 47 percent, well below the WHO global target of 70 percent. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is associated with a 60 percent increase in active TB in Tanzania. The HIV infection rate among adult TB patients is estimated at 44 percent.
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Note: All data are for 2004 except where noted otherwise.
Source: Global Tuberculosis Control: WHO Report 2006 |
USAID Approach and Key Activities
USAID’s approach in Tanzania complements the priorities of the government, the private sector, WHO, and other international technical agencies to support the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program (NTLP) in key areas. With these partners, as well as additional partners in HIV/AIDS, USAID supports Directly Observed Therapy, Short-Course (DOTS) expansion, TB-HIV/AIDS collaboration, and building capacity for improved case detection.
In FY 2005, USAID initiated TB activities in Tanzania and allocated funds ($400,000 for FY 2005 and $550,000 for FY 2006) to focus on strengthening human resource capacity, introducing and scaling-up TB-HIV/AIDS integrated activities, stimulating community awareness of TB and TB-HIV co-infection, and mobilizing communities to reduce stigma. Among clients receiving services for voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) and for preventing mother-to-child transmission in the 30 target districts, the program aims to test 80 percent of TB patients for HIV and to screen 80 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS for TB.
To achieve these goals, USAID will focus on the following activities:
- Conducting baseline assessments of community and provider TB
knowledge
- Introducing new technology to improve laboratory diagnostic capabilities
- Developing multimedia information and educational materials for social change
- Reducing stigma and disseminating counseling materials
- Strengthening referral systems between existing TB-HIV/AIDS treatment programs and increasing the number of TB patients tested for HIV
- Improving the capacity of the Ministry of Health to scale up TB-HIV/AIDS collaborative activities
- Introducing collaboration between the public and private sectors
- Improving skills for health professionals
- Strengthening routine monitoring and evaluation of TB-HIV/AIDS management
USAID Program Achievements
USAID has provided a range of technical support to Tanzania and achieved the following:
- Formed the National Interim TB-HIV/AIDS Collaborative Committee
- Developed a draft national policy for TB-HIV/AIDS collaborative activities
- Initiated TB-HIV/AIDS collaborative activities in 10 districts by recruiting TB-HIV/AIDS collaboration coordinators
- Implemented initial social mobilization activities with the media
- Engaged the Association of Private Health Facilities and supported a coordinated response from the public and private sectors for TB-HIV/AIDS activities to ensure the best use of all resources and available funding
Case Detection and Treatment Success Rates Under DOTS
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Note: DOTS treatment success rate for 2004 will be reported in the 2007 Global Report.
Source: Global Tuberculosis Control: WHO Report 2006. |
Partnerships
The KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation has been a key partner of the National TB and Leprosy Program (NTLP) for the past 27 years. In the mid-1980s, the Foundation helped Tanzania become the first African country to introduce DOTS. USAID works in close collaboration with the NTLP, the National AIDS Control Program, the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, and the Association of Private Health Facilities of Tanzania. The Stop TB Partnership provides technical support, assists with fund raising, and provides TB drugs through the Global TB Drug Facility. WHO works through Stop TB at its headquarters and regional offices in Africa to provide direct technical support.
September 2006
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