In order to address the particular challenges encountered in the fight against TB with effective solutions that take account of the realities specific to the region, the WARN/CARN-TB secretariat in collaboration with WHO/TDR has set up working groups. These working groups bring together participants from several NTPs in West and Central Africa, and are coordinated by a specific country or partner, with support from the WARN/CARN-TB secretariat. Here’s an update on the progress of work in the various groups.
Tuberculosis control in a context of insecurity :
West and Central Africa is a region of the world presenting a variety of security challenges. Whether political, health-related, economic, the result of armed conflict or natural disaster, these challenges have a major impact on the programmatic management of tuberculosis. To help NTPs in West and Central Africa maintain their performance despite the challenges of insecurity, a working group was set up in October 2023. It brings together participants from Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal. Under the leadership of Burkina Faso’s NTP, the group’s objectives were to:
- map insecurity situations in West and Central Africa
- assess the impact of insecurity on NTP activities in West and Central Africa
- Collect approaches implemented by the region’s NTPs to overcome insecurity-related difficulties
- Propose new approaches to NTPs in the region to overcome insecurity-related difficulties.
The group’s work involved a broad review of the literature on the interactions between tuberculosis control and situations of insecurity. In addition, the group collected and analyzed information on the mapping of insecurity in West and Central Africa, the impact of insecurity on the programmatic management of tuberculosis, and the adaptation measures implemented by NTPs to maintain their performance.
The next stage of the group’s work will be to produce a synthesis document, which will also propose recommendations to help NTPs adapt rapidly to various situations of insecurity.
Cross-border management of tuberculosis :
In order to be effective, anti-tuberculosis treatment must be of sufficient duration (at least 6 months) and be adhered to (OCT, follow-up appointments, etc.). Patients who fail to comply with these conditions constitute potential reservoirs of the disease, which could contaminate other people, thereby fuelling the pandemic. However, in West and Central Africa, population movements from one country to another are frequent, posing the challenge of therapeutic compliance and hence therapeutic success. To help NTPs meet this challenge, a working group was set up in early 2024. The group is made up of NTP members from Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. Under the leadership of Senegal’s NTP, the group’s objectives are to:
- take stock of cross-border TB management in the region
- Propose a mechanism for cross-border management of TB patients.
The group’s work has led to the development of a questionnaire that will make it possible to assess the scale of cross-border movements of TB patients, as well as the challenges faced by the NTP and the means of adaptation implemented for the cross-border management of TB in the region.
The questionnaire will be finalized and data collection will begin in the coming weeks.