TREAT TB supports National Tuberculosis Program in The Philippines
As part of a comprehensive package of technical assistance, TREAT TB is training public health professionals to conduct operational research on priority research questions related to MDR-TB. Abstracts produced by participants have been accepted for presentation at regional conferences and manuscripts are expected to be published shortly.
Operational research on the shorter treatment regimen for MDR-TB and other priority areas has the potential to provide key insights on programmatic and clinical management of patients with MDR-TB, improve TB-control, and strengthen the country’s capacity to successfully conduct operational research
Capacity Building for MDR-TB Control in Peru
In partnership with The Union and the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) of the Peruvian Ministry of Health, TREAT TB carried out an operational research (OR) course in Peru from September 2015 to September 2016. The course aimed to develop skills among NTP staff to conduct OR studies independently and generate evidence to improve tuberculosis (TB) control.
The course consisted of three five-day modules: “Developing a Research Protocol”; “Data Collection and Analysis”; and “Scientific Manuscript Writing.” Six participants successfully completed the course; their research focused on several important topics including programmatic management of pre-extensively drug-resistant TB and TB treatment in children using second-line medication. In October 2017, course participants presented their findings at the 48th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Guadalajara, Mexico. Four manuscripts were published in 2018; three in the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease and one in Plos One. Importantly, results from these studies informed policy decisions in the country; for example, in August, 2018, an update to national guidelines introduced new TB drugs for the treatment of pre-XDR TB, and results from one study were considered to support and strengthen the implementation of rapid tests for the diagnosis of multidrug-resistant TB