Project Staff of the USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project visited  Danghara as a Target District of the UNDP TB Control Project

Danghara, Tajikistan, 28 May 2014 – NGO “Farodis”, a sub-recipient of the GFATM TB grant, hosted IOM and staff of the USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project partners from Kulob and Qurghonteppa in Danghara.The visitors familiarized with objectives, main components, targeted indicators as well as roles and responsibilities within the GFATM-sponsored project. The workshop revealed conducting mini-sessions, meetings with target groups, TB cases detection, referral and control of TB adherence treatment as the main components of the project. The Head of TB Prevention Centre in Danghara informed the guests on effective collaboration with the NGO “Farodis” on controlling TB treatment among patients.

During the workshop, visitors were also invited to attend an information session on TB among community residents of Vose community offered and conducted by a Coordinator of the NGO “Farodis”. Workshop participants found several major differences between the USAID and GFATM reporting tools and mechanisms and a volunteer’s diary was recognized as a very innovative and effective approach for recording visits of volunteers in charge of providing social support to TB patients.  

The other half of that day’s workshop was dedicated to a meeting with TB patients who shared progresses and concerns while undergoing a TB treatment. They emphasized the value and work of NGOs as providing significant support and assistance with respect to TB treatment adherence and prevention services within their neighborhoods or local communities to reduce TB-related stigma and discrimination by relatives and neighbours. 

The low adherence of migrants to TB treatment is the main cause for poor clinical results which negatively impacts migrants’ health condition. Therefore, the  cross visit participants positively perceived benefits of recommended step to engage family members to provide TB treatment adherence support and the recommended approach will be given strong consideration in future phases of the USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project.

USAID is the leading American government agency building social and economic prosperity with the people of Central Asia.