TB Stakeholders Launch National Improvement Program
ABUJA, Nigeria: To ensure that tuberculosis patients receive standard care and treatment across the country, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has collaborated with the National Tuberculosis & Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP), the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) and other partners to launch a National Quality Improvement Program for TB (NigeriaQual TB).
At a two-day meeting in Abuja, stakeholders developed sections of a guideline to drive the NigeriaQual TB project and inaugurated a Technical Working Group to execute these guidelines and measure progress. The aim of the project is also to enhance quality of services to reduce resistance to TB medications.
IHVN Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patrick Dakum said that, as a Principal Recipient of the Global Fund New Funding Model DR-TB Grant, the Institute is committed to the project which focuses on the patient and their feedback. “Behind every data is a human being. In essence, if we think about the quality of the program in terms of the individuals who are our family or friends, I believe it will drive us towards achieving the purpose of the NigeriaQual TB program.”
The new NigeriaQual TB program incorporates lessons learned from the NigeriaQual HIV program and has activities and deliverables to improve patient care at facility, local government and state levels. It also has strategies for implementation, sustainability plans and indicators to measure quality.
Director, Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Prof. Man Charurat noted that the University is supporting the Federal Ministry of Health and IHVN to develop the NigeriaQual TB program by combining with the existing NigeriaQual HIV. “By doing so, we can improve the health services that address these two diseases together,” he said.
Over 70 representatives from National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Civil Society for the Eradication of Tuberculosis in Nigeria (TB Network), KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) and Management Science for Health (MSH) among others participated in the development and flag-off of NigeriaQual TB. Senior Medical Officer NTBLCP Dr. Emperor Ubochioma stated that the launched project and inaugurated technical working group will improve gaps in the implementation of the TB program in facilities and communities.
Signed
Dennis AmaechiMordi
ManagerCommunications
Institute of Human Virology Nigeria
