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South Africa Tuberculosis Program

Client: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

A leading cause of morbidity and mortality in South Africa, tuberculosis (TB) threatens the country’s public health and economy. The disease affects the most productive and economically active segments of the population and disproportionately the poor. HIV/AIDS heightens TB’s threat: The weakened immune systems of people living with HIV render them more susceptible to TB.  

The project builds on the accomplishments of the South Africa Technical Assistance and Support Contract (TASC) II TB project in which URC successfully implemented improvements in the quality of TB services. TASC 2 supported the Africa’s National TB Control Program (NTCP) in increasing HIV testing of TB patients and TB testing of HIV/AIDS. In addition, TB treatment outcomes in URC-supported provinces improved in certain areas.

URC Services

URC continues to provide technical support to strengthen TB treatment and control initiatives in South Africa, particularly in strengthening local capacity to detect, treat, and prevent TB. URC is assisting the South African Government in expanding its National Tuberculosis Strategic Plan, which includes: 

• Implementing DOTS
• Integrating TB and HIV services
• Managing multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB
• Contributing to health system strengthening
• Conducting TB research
• Strengthening infection control practices, and
• Working with care providers and empowering communities

The South Africa TB project is addressing TB-related issues at the facility, community, municipal, district, provincial, and national levels. The URC project team is helping facility and community service providers integrate TB treatment with other health care services and develop community-based strategies to identify potential cases and ensure early referrals for screening and treatment. In addition, URC is supporting community-based approaches to ensure patients adhere to treatment. The project is also administering grants to local organizations to conduct TB prevention and control activities and strengthen links between communities and health facilities. The project includes a public education strategy that is using mass and local media to reduce stigma and encourage people with TB symptoms to be tested. Also included is a social mobilization strategy to counter stigma and promote a supportive environment for people affected by TB.

At the national level, URC and the NTCP are working together to strengthen information systems, supervision, and program management. The project coordinates its work with that of the USAID Health Care Improvement Project, also managed by URC.

Partnerships

Contact partners include: The International Union Against TB and Lung Disease, Health Systems Trust, the Johns Hopkins Health and Education South Africa, BEA Enterprises, and Karensoft Consulting Group

Resources

South Africa TB Program web site at http://dev.tbsouthafrica.org/

For more information

For more information on the South Africa TB project, please contact Yangchen Dolkar at ydolkar@urc-chs.com.

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