Round Tables on Improving Collaboration on TB Prevention among Migrants

Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 5 and 17 June 2014 – Deputy Heads of local governments, community leaders, the Head of a local TB Control Centre, IOM and PSI participated in two round tables organized within the framework of the USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project. The workshops were held in Qurghon Teppa and Kulob southern cities, on 5 and 17 June to discuss issues relating to TB among migrant workers and to identify the most effective ways of strengthening co-operation to significantly prevent and control the spread of TB in society.

In their statements, the participants underscored the need for a broader geographic coverage and expressed concern that not all communities in the cities of Qurghon Teppa and Kulob had been involved yet. The community leaders also shared their experiences with respect to referral services and TB treatment adherence support to migrants.

The workshops provided real examples of TB incidents and practices of key actors in local communities with a lot of positive feedback received from the participants. Furthermore, the roundtables aimed to engage other heads of communities to encourage participation in the National TB Control Programme by informing people about TB prevention and referring them to IOM’s NGO partners. Finally, the workshops concluded with special reference made to the importance of referring all suspected TB patients to the local TB Control Centre for diagnostics and promoting better knowledge and tolerance of people with TB by the public.

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