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Background
With a 1.8% risk of tuberculosis infection
annually, Sudan is the third most burdened
country in the Eastern Mediterranean
Region. Out of 100,000, 62 people die
as a result of tuberculosis in Sudan.
The expected number of new smear-positive
cases is 32,614 from a total 33.6 million
people and with an average case notification
of approximately 25,000 cases (40% detection
rate). Currently, Directly Observed
Therapy Services (DOTS) are provided
through 326 diagnostic centres and 904
DOT-treatment units with a focus on
strengthening passive case detection,
uninterrupted supply of anti-TB drugs,
monitoring of case detection and treatment
outcomes.
In order to meet these objectives, the
Comprehensiveness and Quality of Directly
Observed Treatment (DOTS) project was
launched in January 2007 with the support
of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Malaria (GFATM).
Objectives
The project intends to scale-up existing
interventions through building and maintaining
human resources; strengthening supervision;
monitoring and evaluation; strengthening
the Procurement and Supply-chain Management
(PSM) system, operational research,
and advocacy to increase political commitment
to DOTS; while introducing new initiatives
through behavioural communication change,
expanding DOT service by collaborating
with other health providers, prevention
of HIV in tuberculosis patients, and
intensifying tuberculosis case finding
in People Living With AIDS (PLWA).
The project’s specific objectives
are:
• Reach 70% case detection rate
by 2008.
• Reach 85% in tuberculosis
recovery success rates.
• Halve the prevalence and deaths
caused by tuberculosis by 2010.
• Reduce social stigma and adverse
socio-economic impacts of tuberculosis.
Snapshots of the project's major achievements
• Handed over 24 tonnes of tuberculosis
drugs to the Ministry of Health in June
2007 as a Global Fund contribution to
the eradication of tuberculosis. The
total cost of these drugs amounts to
$440,742.87.
• Detection of new smear positive
cases received from 177 Tuberculosis
Management Units out of the target 240
TBMU.
• Completed the treatment of 9,129
patients of whom 6,847 were cured in
2005. The 2006 rate has not yet been
calculated as reporting on the treatment
success rate for any one year is calculated
during the following year.
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