Accelerating access to prevention and treatment of tuberculosis towards attaining the MDGs

Goals:

To reduce by 20% the 2013 TB prevalence baseline level of 286 per 100,000 person population by 2020 in line with post 2015 Global TB control Strategy;
To reduce by 35% the 2012 TB mortality rate baseline of 4 deaths per 100,000 person population by 2020;
To end the TB epidemic in Ghana by 2035 without catastrophic cost due to TB affected families.

Strategies:

Screen, detect early, and enroll new susceptible cases with increased focus on TB case detection in 90 high burden districts (click map to enlarge);
Conduct TB screening among key affected populations;
Promote early detection and treatment of 100% of confirmed MDR-TB (multi drug resistant TB) cases;
Attain higher treatment success from 84% in 2012 to 91% by 2020 through improved quality clinical care and community TB care; and
Increase co-ordination of TB and HIV activities and uptake of ART coverage among co-infected patients.

Planned activities:

Ensure intensified and systematic screening for TB of all patients attending health facilities, with special focus on 90 high burden districts based on reported TB cases;
Conduct pro-active case finding activities in risk groups and vulnerable populations;
Promote extensive use of new technology for screening (digital Xray) and diagnosis (Xpert);
Ensure early detection and treatment of 100% of confirmed MDR-TB cases;
Task shifting in order to accommodate the anticipated workload increase in targeted districts;
Facilitate TB and HIV collaborative activities: Create 50 new TB/HIV sites providing test kits, ARVs and CTX; screen all PLHIV enrolled on treatment twice in a year; integrate service supervision for jointly planned activities; support ART clinics to perform TB screening including the use of Xpert for all PLHIV with abnormal Xray.

Target Group/Beneficiaries:

Find an article on experiences with TB contact tracing undertaken by the NGOs WAAF and Ghana TB Voice Network here