World TB Day: PASADA primes Stop TB Injection on ECE-TB Project

TANZANIA: IF you are not aware, the world Tuberculosis Day (TB) is observed annually on March 24th to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social, and economic impact of the disease and to intensify efforts to end the global epidemic.

In commemoration of this day, Pastoral Activities and Services for People with AIDS Dar es Salaam Archdiocese (PASADA) and Stop TB/The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) celebrated a significant achievement stemming from the injection of 79,998 US dollars into the Empowering Communities and Equitable TB services (ECE-TB) Project.

PASADA and UNOPS, in agreement since April 6th last year, have been committed to ensuring that TB services are accessible to all populations, particularly in Dar es Salaam and Coast Region.

The project targets both vulnerable and general populations under its one-year initiative. UNOPS, established by the UN General Assembly as a central resource for the UN system in procurement and contracts management, administers the financial resources of the Stop TB Partnership, making it a critical partner in this endeavour.

In an interview with the ‘Daily News’, ECE-TB Project Manager Jackline Mwaipaja, highlighted the project’s main objective, which is to ensure the accessibility of TB services to all populations.

She emphasized the achievements in Community Lead Monitoring (CLM) through the use of a digital platform, allowing clients to track progress and express their challenges.

Additionally, the project has provided diagnosis and treatment access support to 622 vulnerable individuals, including drug addicts, reaching a total of 366 people.

Mwaipaja’s message in light of World TB Day is that TB is curable and preventable, echoing the theme “Yes We Can End TB.” “We have achieved in the area of Community Lead Monitoring (CLM) through this project that we implement by using one impact, ‘a digital platform’ that enables our client to access our progress. Clients on the other hand get a room to present their challenges,” she said.

She also shared that 919 TB cases were notified between April and December 2023, including 111 cases in children below 15 years, representing 12 per cent of all notified cases.

Furthermore, among the notified cases, 256 individuals were co-infected. The 79,998 US dollars milestone was disbursed in three stages, with $47,998 released upon the signature of the Grant Support Agreement, and subsequent disbursements contingent on the submission and approval of progress reports.

The eventual amount disbursed will correspond to the actual project expenditures. Furthermore, PASADA has also succeeded on the Community Human Rights and Gender Part as 622 vulnerable people were offered diagnosis and treatment access support.

She also highlighted that drug addicts have also benefited from the project and so far, 366 people have been reached.

“Towards World TB commemoration, my take home message is TB is curable and preventable just like what the commemoration theme states, ‘Yes We Can End TB.” She added: “For ninemonth period of April-December last year we have managed to notify 919 TB cases in which 111 were children below 15 years hence 12 per cent of all notified cases.

However, among the notified cases 256 were co-infected.” According to her, the 79,998 US dollars Milestone, 47,998 US dollars, was disbursed upon signature of the Grant Support Agreement with the second milestone 16,000 US dollars was disbursed upon receipt and approval by Stop TB Partnership/UNOPS of an interim narrative progress report and an interim financial report on the use of grant funds and milestone 3 which is 16,000 US dollars will be injected in the project upon completion of activities and acceptance of a final narrative report, case study and certified financial report on the use of grant funds.

The actual amount of the final disbursement payable to the Grantee shall be equivalent to the expenditures incurred by the Grantee throughout the period of this Agreement, less any previous disbursements made by Stop TB/UNOPS to the Grantee.

The Stop TB Partnership is a global, multi-stakeholder partnership that seeks to achieve a world without tuberculosis through facilitating, catalysing and coordinating the work of its partners through the Secretariat of the Stop TB Partnership based in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Stop TB Partnership, based in Geneva, Switzerland, is a global, multistakeholder partnership working towards eradicating tuberculosis. PASADA, operating under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, provides essential social services and support to those affected by HIV.

As of 2022, the organization has reached 28,601 beneficiaries and continues to make strides in combating TB. By refining the language and streamlining the content, the article becomes clearer and easier to follow for readers.