Provincial TB Control Program Sindh in collaboration National TB Control Program Islamabad arranged 1st ACSM Provincial Steering Committee Meeting recently in MNCH Office, Karachi.
On the occasion, Dr. Abdul Sattar Korai, Director General Health, Sindh speaking as a chief guest stressed the need for providing TB control services in urban areas and hoped that through ACSM we will achieve our goal.
He appreciated the efforts of Provincial TB Control Program and emphasized on to focus monitoring, which is very important.
Dr. Noor Ahmad Baloch, National Program Manager, National TB Control Program, Islamabad said that ACSM is a very important component in TB control activity and is one of the sixth “Stop TB” component.
There is also need to have tangible indicator for ACSM which are missing and complains in ACSM are systematically talked but nobody believe it, until and unless there is a good mechanism to calculate them. The case of progress is declining and there is need to look what are the factors responsible for the missing care. ASCM activities in needed urban areas, he added.
Logo and sign boards are necessary and should be used to create awareness regarding TB. Patient empowerment, addition with good intention is a good approach and it will help us to make a difference.
Najma Qadir Chand, ACSM Coordinator briefed the participants about the updates and Terms of References of Steering Committee.
She said that the steering committee will work closely for providing overall support and guidance in scaling up quality of ACSM for Tuberculosis.
Dr. A. R. Jamail from Bridge Consultant Foundation said that in Programmatic Progress from October 2007 to November 2009, 1329 Journalists have been oriented whereas 3547 people including policy makers, opinion leaders, key influencers and celebrity role models were sensitized through orientation sessions.
Meeting with EDOs Health, DTCs, DOTS Incharge, PTP manager, NPOs, ACSM Coordinator, Nazims, Councilors and other officials were also carried out.
Tanveer Hyder Bhangar from Mercy Corps Pakistan gave an overview of Global Fund Round 6 (TB Component).
He said that the goal of the project is to reduce the burden of TB in Pakistan by 2015 in line with the “Millennium Development Goals” and the “Stop TB Partnership” targets
The overall objective includes; implementation of DOTS in Tertiary care hospitals in Public sector; to empower people with TB, and communities (ACSM); to address TB/HIV and Drug Resistant – TB (MDR) and to strengthen NTP for effective program implementation.
Dr. Faisal Mustafa, Representative from BDN spoke on Basic Development Needs (BDN) Programme. He informed the participants that GFATM Round-6 objective III is to empower people with TB, and Communities through Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM).
There is need to increase awareness, knowledge and self efficacy of communities toward TB screening and its treatment.
Earlier, Dr. Ismat Ara, Director, Provincial TB Control Program Sindh said that TB program is always on the first of the government list. Sindh is the first province which got 100 percent DOTs coverage. 70 percent of CDR national target has been achieved. Our default rate is 6 percent. We are doing a lot of effort to make the default rate less than 3 percent.
There is lack of knowledge regarding TB and the stop of TB treatment to the patients is creating hurdles to the control the spread of TB in Sindh.
She stressed on the need upon migration from other countries and termed it the cause of spreading of TB & HIV/AIDS.
In the end, Dr. Ismat Ara offered vote of thanks.