In 2022, PR-UNOPS worked closely with the public sector service providers and sub-recipients to maintain TB prevention, care, and treatment services while undertaking COVID-19 infection control measures so that the interventions were ensured not to be interrupted.
During the year, 107,086 (77% of the annual target) TB patients were notified and enrolled in treatment. The treatment success rate was 87% (97% of the target).
A total of 2,261 children under the age of 5 years who were in contact with TB patients began TB Preventive Therapy (TPT).
In 2022, 21,267 (77% of target) cases were notified among high-risk groups, such as Tuberculosis patients associated with comorbid diseases such as HIV and diabetes, children under the age of five years, populations from border townships, and hard-to-reach areas. However, only 210 of all forms of TB cases were notified among prisoners.
Some 62% (70% of target) of TB patients with HIV infection had been enrolled in ART during TB treatment by the end of the year. The TB and HIV programmes continue to improve coordination and collaboration between the two programmes to maintain good achievements in TB-HIV.
In 2022, 2,690 (62% of target) multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) cases were notified. And 2,310 (58% of target) MDR-TB patients were put on treatment.
The drug sensitivity testing (DST) coverage was 46% (54% of target), with nearly half of the registered TB patients tested. Through improved collaboration with the implementing partners, it is still critical to increase DST coverage.
About 37,099 (114% of target) of TB patients were referred and/or treated by partners implementing the public-private-mix (PPM) approach. The number of all forms of TB notified by community volunteers through community-based TB care activities was 16,968 (81% of target).
For Community-based TB care services, although large sessions such as community awareness sessions and mobile team activities were stopped due to the pandemic, one-to-one Health Education sessions and patient counseling were conducted.
PR-UNOPS continues to provide laboratory investigation fees, transportation allowance and nutrition (cash) support to MDR-TB patients via ATM transfer, mobile money transfer (WavePay), or direct cash payment. TB volunteers provide Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) supervision either one-to-one or via telecommunications.
TB epidemiological review was carried out in Dec 2022 with the technical support of WHO to know the country’s epidemiology status and benchmarks of TB surveillance.
