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
• During 2008, the UNDP Global
Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria
handed drugs to the national TB program
with a total cost of $663,000 US$.
• Detection of 8564 new smear
positive cases through regularly reported
260 Tuberculosis Management Units.
• Out of 7,280 new smear positive
TB cases registered, 83% (6,035) successfully
completed their treatment during 2008.
• A total of 990 health workers
trained in TB management using Directly
Observed Treatment DOTS according
to the national guidelines.
• A total of 2128 TB patients
received HIV counseling and testing
for HIV/AIDS
• A total of 377,000 condoms
distributed for free to TB patients
• A total of 476 policy makers
sensitized on TB and TB/HIV.
