The KNCV-led, USAID-funded Challenge TB project (CTB), running from 1015 – 2019, in Ethiopia was the major partner supporting the National TB Program (NTP) at the national and regional level.
The project focused on three areas of support:
– Comprehensive regional level support and technical assistance
– National level technical assistance
– Support for Urban TB activities
In 2017, CTB contributed to the implementation of the NTP’s national strategic plan with much success. The CTB-supported countries jointly achieved the following results during the five-year project period:
– 7.3% reduction of the TB incidence rate above the global average of 6.3%
– 85% treatment success rate with more than ten countries above 90%
– 10.2 million people successfully treated
– 275,000 people initiated on treatment for MDR-TB
– Provision of ART for 86% of people infected with both TB and HIV
The goal of the IMPAACT4TB (Increasing Market and Public health outcomes through scaling up Affordable Access models of short Course preventive therapy for TB) project is to reduce TB incidence and deaths among people living with HIV (PLHIV) (15-49 years) and child contacts through sustainable implementation of affordable, quality-assured 3HP. The utilization of GeneXpert was expanded, where 222,000 presumptive cases were tested and the proportion of DS-TB cases diagnosed by GeneXpert increased from 6% to 18%.
PAVIA (PhArmaco Vigilance Africa) is an EDCTP-funded project led by Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) with KNCV being one of the key partners. The primary focus of the project is developing local systems and improving safety of new drugs for treatment of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).
The overall goal of the TB REACH ‘Improving TB Preventive Treatment among Under-five Children through Engagement of Women’s Indigenous Associations in Ethiopia project is to strengthen Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT) among under-five children through a women-centered approach. Empowering women and girls will be an integral component of this project.
As part of the effort to avail simplified TB diagnostic methods for children, KNCV developed a technique which utilizes simplified stool testing methods using Xpert/MTB/RIF assays. To further optimize the approach we, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Public Health Initiative (EPHI), started implementation of the PODTEC project, which has three main objectives:
– Optimizing the KNCV SOS method through a series of experiments using stool samples
– Enhance specimen transport systems from remote areas by using electronic notification system
– Demonstrate the impact of these interventions under small-scale implementation condition in areas with limited access to TB services.
Country representative: Ahmed Bedru