Project Details

Main Objective

To provide an expert opinion on systematically reviewed evidence on targeted interventions, aimed at facilitating the effective prevention and control of tuberculosis (TB) among vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations, through addressing socio-behavioral determinants and other factors that increase risk of delayed diagnosis, onward transmission, treatment interruption, drug resistance, treatment failure and preventable death.

Description

Tuberculosis is prevalent in all Districts in Uganda, both in rural and urban areas and it remains a public health priority irrespective of local incidence rates. In 2024, there were over 145 cases of TB reported in Ssaabagabo-Makindye Sub county (283,272 population size with 70,780 households), with an incidence rate of 11.8% cases per 1,000 populations. The epidemiology of TB differs across the District (Wakiso) and depends among other things. As TB incidence increases in the general population, the disease becomes concentrated in key populations at the lower end of the socio-economic scale and especially among vulnerable (Homeless, incarcerated, PLHIV, Drug users, misusing Alcoholic groups, smokers, Elderly, Diabetic, Migrants, Ethnic minority/ indigenous populations, exposed health workers and marginalized Urban-Rural poor groups) and socially excluded populations. In general, TB cannot be controlled at national population level unless specific efforts are made to find and treat cases occurring among those most socio-economically disadvantaged and vulnerable. The main pillars of TB prevention and control are early diagnosis and case management, which are essential not only for the successful treatment of TB patients, but also for controlling TB as a public health problem.

The Defeat TB project is a five-year project that aims to increase TB case notification, case detection and treatment outcomes through health system strengthening with the aim of ending the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in Uganda. It has four main implementation result areas: increase screening and detection of all forms of tuberculosis among people at community levels, ensure strong community systems to support the continuum of TB prevention, screening, diagnosis, care, referrals and linkages and enhance leadership and technical capacity of the TB program at community levels to effectively guide and manage implementation of TB control activities.

GRONET intends to implement community-based TB activities in Uganda by Conducting community awareness on TB for stigma reduction, Identify TB survivors to act as community TB champions and provide peer psychosocial support, Support TB treatment adherence through establishing peer support groups, selection and training of treatment supporters, follow up TB clients and Participate in TB prevention.