Axshya India Global Fund TB Project

The Axshya India TB Project is a Round 9 TB Project of Global Fund to reduce TB-related morbidity and mortality, and to accelerate progress towards achieving the targets of the Global Stop TB Strategy for 2006-2015. It`s a GFTAM Funded Project for 5 Years (April 2010 to March 2015), Covering 23 States and 374 Districts.

LEPRA` SR for 11 Districts in Madhya Pradesh with 4SSRs and 12 Districts in Odisha (Angul, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Puri, Sambalpur and Sundergarh) with 11SSRs including OVHA ( Orissa Voluntary Health Association)for Bhubaneswar and Puri Districts.

Objectives

• Improve the reach, visibility and effectiveness of RNTCP through civil society support in 12 districts of the state by 2015.
• Engage communities and community-based care providers in 12 districts of Odisha to improve TB care and control, especially for marginalize dandvulnerable populations including TB-HIV.

Date Project Started

1st October April 2010 in India and the filed level activities started from October 1st October 2010.

Strategy

• Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization.
• Political Commitment and improving diagnosis of TB Patients.

Area of Coverage

One Programme and one Finance/Accounts provided by OVHA from existing Staff and 8 Community Volunteers for Field level activities, Tracking of Referrals, Sputum Collection and Transportation from ASHAs to DMCs etc provided by SR.

Staff Details

In Bhubaneswar the existing two Tuberculosis Units of RNTCP (Capital Hospital & Sahid Nagar) consisting of Nine Designated Microscopic Centers (DMCs) and 10 lakhs Population, In Puri District out of 4 TUs, One TU ` Charichhak, consisting of 5 DMCs and Gop DMC of Puri TU Targeted for Project interventions.

Major Activities

• Training Health Staff in Soft Skills
• Half Yearly Following Meetings with Health Staff
• Capacity Building for 10 CBOs in each district
• Quarterly Meetings of CBOs with DTO
• Develop and TB Forums in Districts
• Select and Train Rural Health Providers
• Advocate with Medical Colleges on RNTCP Promoted DOTS Plus Guidelines
• Quarterly Joint Meetings of ICTCs and DMCs for sensitization and review of Cross Referrals

Current Status

With Project efforts in 2 target districts of OVHA, increased awareness, TB Suspect referral and reporting at DMCs, the involvement of Primary Health Care Staff/ASHA/CBO/NGO/Cured TB Persons/TB Forums etc. Showing increasing trend in New Case detection at Target DMCs of Charichhak TU of Puri and some parts of Bhubaneswar.

Way Forward

The Project will continue with same track of activities with special attention on identification, referral of TB Suspects, detection of new TB cases, tracking of referrals, strengthening of District level TB Forums, the involvement of Health Providers, ASHA/AWW/RHCP with required political and administrative commitment.