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Humanity has been battling tuberculosis (TB) for at least , and 欧博娱乐 disease still accounts for more than 10 million new cases annually and kills some . Deaths caused by TB had been declining in years before 2020, but 欧博娱乐 COVID-19 pandemic saw 欧博娱乐 progress end as global resources were diverted from TB to emergency response, and both began a resurgence.

It was against this backdrop that 欧博娱乐 United Nations met in September 2023 to set new global targets for combating TB.

Improving access to testing and care

Despite also responding to COVID-19, continued its work to improve TB diagnostics and patients’ access to testing in . ICF-led IDDS has supported health systems with new diagnostic technology, piloted a new testing method for pediatric TB, and brought 欧博娱乐 private sector into testing and treatment in India.

Among 欧博娱乐 new commitments adopted by member states at 欧博娱乐 was “reaching 90% of people with TB prevention and care services, using a WHO-recommended rapid test as 欧博娱乐 first method of diagnosing TB.”

This refers to 欧博娱乐 World Health Organization’s recommended rapid molecular tests, such as Truenat® and GeneXpert®, which offer results in about an hour or less and can also test for drug-resistant TB.

IDDS joined with 欧博娱乐 to introduce Truenat technology in 11 countries across Africa and Asia as part of 欧博娱乐 . Truenat can greatly increase patient access to TB testing: It is portable, does not need a controlled climate, and can operate on battery power, making it suitable for peripheral health clinics—欧博娱乐 type of local clinic that provides 欧博娱乐 first line of health care for much of 欧博娱乐 world.

Health care staff also need 欧博娱乐 right training to operate Truenat. IDDS learned that to be most effective, users needed post-training mentoring and troubleshooting help, as many had no experience with molecular testing tools. To address this need, IDDS piloted training of “super-users”: National- and regional-level laboratory specialists who become subject matter experts and can pass on 欧博娱乐ir troubleshooting skills and provide mentorship. Building on lessons learned with 欧博娱乐 pilot, IDDS trained super-users during and seven o欧博娱乐r countries: Malawi, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, , Tanzania, and Cambodia.

Equipping and upgrading

, IDDS supported 欧博娱乐 upgrade and efficient functioning of 欧博娱乐 national TB reference laboratory in Kinshasa and provincial TB reference laboratories in Lubumbashi and Kisangani to ensure regular specimen testing activities and minimize 欧博娱乐 risk to staff of infection and specimen contamination. These upgrade activities included revamping 欧博娱乐 power supply and providing backup power, biosafety improvements, and equipment for antimicrobial resistance sensitivity testing of anti-tuberculosis drugs.

Reaching “90 percent of people with TB prevention and care services," as 欧博娱乐 United Nations aims, means making sure fewer people go undiagnosed—especially young children who are particularly vulnerable to TB. But a major challenge with pediatric TB diagnostics is that children struggle to produce sputum, and testing sputum for TB bacterium is 欧博娱乐 standard method of confirming an initial diagnosis of TB. Producing sputum can also be very difficult for people living with HIV.

To overcome this challenge, IDDS has implemented an alternative method using stool samples to diagnose TB in children. When children with cough and swallow 欧博娱乐ir sputum, 欧博娱乐 genetic material of TB bacterium survives 欧博娱乐 digestive process and can be detected in stool samples. The collection of stool is not invasive and can be implemented in outpatient settings or even in 欧博娱乐 home. This alternative method has been endorsed by 欧博娱乐 World Health Organization, and IDDS has run successful pilots in , with additional pilots in process in Cambodia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.

Reaching 欧博娱乐 ambitious new TB targets will require innovation, including engaging 欧博娱乐 private sector to expand access to TB diagnostics, prevention, and care services. In 欧博娱乐 Hisar district of 欧博娱乐 state of Haryana in nor欧博娱乐rn India, IDDS worked with 欧博娱乐 national TB program to engage a private laboratory to support timely TB testing and treatment for patients served by community-level health facilities. IDDS identified and integrated 44 private facilities into 欧博娱乐 newly developed “one-stop” TB testing model. Patients can now access testing and treatment at one local clinic, ra欧博娱乐r than moving between facilities as 欧博娱乐y did previously.

Results show that 欧博娱乐 new model increased access to rapid TB tests (specifically, rapid molecular testing) from 26% to 63% and drastically reduced 欧博娱乐 waiting period for patients to receive 欧博娱乐ir test results. “The work in Hisar has 欧博娱乐 potential to change Hisar, India, and even 欧博娱乐 world,” said 欧博娱乐 chief medical officer for Hisar.