The Reducing the Burden of TB project (known in Papua New Guinea as the Community-Based TB Treatment (CBTT) project, reduces infections, suffering, deaths and discrimination associated with tuberculosis (TB). The project strengthens the capacity of health care workers in four basic management clinics to provide high-quality, patient-centered TB services.
In addition, the project uses community treatment supporters to provide direct observation treatment (DOT), conduct awareness activities and provide home visits. FHI 360 implements the project in the National Capital District of Port Moresby as part of the district’s TB program. CBTT is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
CBTT has four key program components:
Advocacy and health promotion
- Increasing advocacy to national and local stakeholders to allocate more resources for TB services
- Educating patients and their communities through health promotion activities
Service delivery
- Providing outreach services that include mobilizing community treatment supporters to improve patient-centered care
- Implementing patient-centered management that includes training, mentoring and standardizing management
- Improving diagnostic services at basic management units and reference basic management unit levels, focusing on refurbishment, procurement of supplies and training
Program support
- Providing referral pathways, implementing policies and guidelines and providing technical assistance and training in managing TB
- Ensuring that effective infection control measures are in place
- Improving the reliability of logistics services for the National Capital District program
Coordination and oversight
- Improving monitoring, reporting, research and supervision of TB activities
- Increasing cooperation and coordination among government partners, private sector, community-based organizations, donors and other stakeholders
