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Southern African Development Community Awards URC Contract to Develop Regional TB Standards

URC will work with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to develop regional standards for the prevention, control, treatment, and management of tuberculosis (TB).

SADC member countries among the most heavily impacted by TB

SADC works to address socioeconomic cooperation among its 15 member states. The region has some of the highest TB morbidity and mortality rates in the world. Five SADC countries—Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe—are among the 22 high-burden countries which contribute to over 80% of reported TB cases worldwide. The estimated death rate in some SADC countries is two to three times higher than average rates in Africa and, in the worst case, 32 times higher than the world average.

High rates of MDR and XDR TB and high population mobility call for harmonized regional policies

Burgeoning rates of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB and high numbers of people moving between countries make it vital for the region to increase cooperation. Under the new contract, URC will provide SADC with technical assistance to develop minimum standardized TB policies and guidelines to ensure that patients throughout the region have access to quality Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course (DOTS) services.

Under the contract, URC will provide key services to develop:

• Regional policies and  standardized guidelines for TB control procedures
• A  framework for health workers to use in prescribing treatment regimens
• A model for building TB/HIV programs and expanding cross-referral services for HIV and TB patients

The team will be led by Dr. Refiloe Matji, URC’s Regional Director for Southern Africa. Dr. Matji brings over thirteen years of international experience in TB and TB/HIV control program management to the project.

For more information on the SADC award, please contact Stacy Kancijanic at skancijanic@urc-chs.com.

To read about URC's work to combat TB worldwide link to http://www.urc-chs.com/news/tuberculosis.htm and http://www.urc-chs.com/news/news_tbday_09.html.