In 2023, amidst the political instability in the country which brought up many challenges in the way programmes were implemented, PR-UNOPS and its implementing partners continued to maintain TB case finding, diagnosis and treatment services so that the interventions were ensured not to be interrupted.

During 2023, 125,954 (93% 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 5,387 children under the age of 5 years who were in contact with TB patients began TB Preventive Therapy (TPT). 

In 2023, 25,904 (94% 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 688 of all forms of TB cases were notified among prisoners. 

Some 69% (77% of target) of TB patients with HIV infection had been enrolled in ART during TB treatment by the end of the year. About 247,959 (49% of target) of HIV patients were screened for TB during follow-up visits to the ART centre and decentralized sites and 92 per cent (95% of target) of TB patients were screened for HIV. 

The TB and HIV programmes continue to improve coordination and collaboration between the two programmes to maintain good achievements in TB-HIV.

In 2023, 2,628 (52% of target) multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) cases were notified. And 2,525 (53% of target) MDR-TB patients were put on second-line treatment.

The drug sensitivity testing (DST) coverage was 45% (50% of target), with half of the registered TB patients tested. Through improved collaboration and systematic sputum transportation  with the implementing partners, it is still critical to increase DST coverage. 

About 39,682 (123% 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 18,521 (82% of target).

For Community-based TB care services, although large sessions such as community awareness sessions were stopped, one-to-one Health Education sessions, patient counseling and several mobile team activities 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.