TB/HIV collaboration initiatives in Bangladesh

Dr. Ahmed Parvez Zabeen is receiving a crest after presenting a paper on TB/HIV collaboration - a way-forwards in Health System Strengthening in Bangladesh at 31st Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference held on  February 04, 2010 at BCPS Auditorium, Mohakali, Dhaka, Bangladesh

TB/HIV collaboration – a way forwards towards Health System Strengthening in Bangladesh.

Zabeen AP ¹, Hoque N ², Hiron M Md³

Introduction:

Bangladesh is number sixth TB-High Burden Countries in the world. Concentrated epidemics are seen among ID users.

Objectives:  

Establish collaboration between National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) and National AIDS and STD Program (NASP) to reduce the burden of tuberculosis and HIV in population affected by both diseases.

Methodology:  

NTP has taken up necessary actions for collaboration with NASP. NTP initiated the official approval of the Director General of Health Services and after that in last one year it has developed policy for collaboration, develop the National TB/HIV guideline, and orientation workshop on DOTS has been conducted with policy makers of NASP, partners and different levels of health workers who are working in HIV/AIDS. 

Results:

Director General of Health Services approves TB/HIV co-ordination committee. TB/HIV working group has met three times to develop the National TB/HIV Guideline. Ten workshops were conducted with 261 different levels of policy makers of NASP partners on DOTS in 2008. Nineteen workshops were conducted with 549 participants with different levels of TB/HIV health care workers on DOTS last year. One VCT center has been established at National Institute of the Disease of Chest and Hospital, Dhaka.   

Conclusion:

Different activities at policy and service delivery level leads to effective TB/HIV collaboration in Bangladesh.

1 Divisional Consultant - ACSM, Dhaka Division, National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP)

2. Assistant Professor, Respiratory Medicine, National Institute of the Disease of Chest and Hospital (NIDCH), Dhaka

3. Director-cum-Professor, National Institute of the Disease of Chest and Hospital (NIDCH), Dhaka