project equip
Enhanced use of Quality drugs & UtiliSation of Innovative diagnostics for TB management
Project EQUIP (Enhanced Use of Quality Drugs and Utilization of Innovative diagnostics for TB Management in the Private Sector) was initiated as a partnership between REACH, Greater Chennai Corporation and funded by KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation. This project was built upon the earlier REACH PPM model to demonstrate that the private sector could play a vital role in diagnosing, notifying and ensuring early access to care for people with drug resistant TB (DR-TB) using newer diagnostics and standardized treatment regimens. The initiative was from April 2015 to December 2017. Project EQUIP transitioned into the TB free Chennai Initiative during the last quarter of 2017. The operational areas for the project were two of the three districts of Chennai - Central and South districts.
To know more about the proect, read the report here.
key highlights
PPM centres as holistic support hubs
PPM centres as holistic support hubs
PPM centres as holistic support hubs
REACH identified private hospitals and clinics to function as Public Private Mix (PPM) centres to facilitate participation of private practitioners. The doctor in-charge and the laboratory technician in these centres were trained in the TB programme's protocol. These centres offered diagnostic and treatment facilities for people with TB in the private sector. REACH assisted the PPM centres by obtaining drug boxes and TB registers from the Chennai Corporation. Mostly located within healthcare settings (private/trust hospitals), these centres have evolved as spaces for active interaction, counselling and are being used for peer experience sharing. The EQUIP Centres serve as drug collection and sputum collection points.
Timely quality TB diagnosis
PPM centres as holistic support hubs
PPM centres as holistic support hubs
The project raised the awareness about the availability of newer diagnostics for TB detection such as CB NAAT. We saw a high demand and uptake for these tests among people with TB from the private sector. The project also partnered with stand-alone labs to decentralise testing and make it more accessible to people with symptoms of TB and people with TB. Under EQUIP, three 4-cartridge CB-NAAT systems were procured and testing was done at the PPM centres.
cadre of healthcare workers and volunteers
REACH identified and trained community volunteers in directly observed treatment (DOT) and provided support for get people lost to follow up back on treatment and documentation. They facilitated access to a range of services, including free X-rays, CB-NAAT testing, treatment adhrance support, psychosocial support, linkage to care for people with DR-TB diagnosed in the private sector, home visits, contact screening, drug collection, nutrition support, In order to facilitate the collection and transportation of samples, community volunteers were trained.
Timely quality assured TB drugs
Provision of daily treatment with standard TB drugs was initiated through the project for private practitioners (PPs) who recommended it for their patients. PPs were offered various options for participating in the programme. They could diagnose and treat people with TB in their own clinics following TB programme guidelines or they could refer their patients to government/PPM centres for diagnosis and/or treatment under the DOTS strategy.
PROJECT objectives
To develop an effective and replicable model for public-private partnership in diagnosing, notifying, and ensuring early access to care for people with drug resistance tuberculosis
To develop an effective and replicable model for public-private partnership in diagnosing, notifying, and ensuring early access to care for people with drug resistance tuberculosis
To develop an effective and replicable model for public-private partnership in diagnosing, notifying, and ensuring early access to care for people with drug resistance tuberculosis
To reduce the time taken to diagnose Multi-Drug Resistant-TB by giving access to improved diagnostic tools
To develop an effective and replicable model for public-private partnership in diagnosing, notifying, and ensuring early access to care for people with drug resistance tuberculosis
To develop an effective and replicable model for public-private partnership in diagnosing, notifying, and ensuring early access to care for people with drug resistance tuberculosis
To ensure a reliable supply of quality drugs and treatment support for people with TB
To develop an effective and replicable model for public-private partnership in diagnosing, notifying, and ensuring early access to care for people with drug resistance tuberculosis
To ensure a reliable supply of quality drugs and treatment support for people with TB
Medicine alone will not cure TB. Thanks to efforts of the TB Nanban, I also got emotional support which helped me complete my treatment."
Ms Rasi (name changed to protect privacy)
