DetecTB project in Palawan
Detect missing cases by improving accessibility and applying for new diagnostic algorithm with new diagnostic tools
The DetecTB project aims to increase case detection by improving accessibility of high risk populations to TB services. These high risk groups include people living in slums, poor or marginalized areas, indigenous peoples and prisoners. A mobile clinic equipped with more sensitive diagnostic tools such as digital X-ray, Xpert MTB/RIF and LED-FM will be used by the project.
The project’s specific objectives are:
- to increase by 10 % or more the number of TB cases through the intensified case finding approach;
- to make a TB diagnosis on the same day (One stop DetecTB service);
- to refer all identified active PTB cases to the local NTP for appropriate management; and
- to compare the project case-finding strategy with current NTP case finding strategy, in terms of yield of cases detected and to provide sound data and evidence to the NTP.
WHO conceptualized the project, developed operational guidelines and diagnostic algorithm. At the end of project, WHO will collect and analyze data, and provide evidence to NTP for future change in case-finding policy and strategies in the Philippines.
The project team has been formed within WHO Country Office to support the project technically, administratively and logistically. In Palawan, the provincial health officer (PHO) and CHO created the project implementation teams, which consist of a doctor, a nurse, a medical technologist and an X-ray technician.
KOFIH invited PHO and CHO project teams to Korea. They were trained at the Korean Institute of Tuberculosis (KIT) for two weeks so that they can provide high quality TB diagnostic services to people living in Palawan. The training focused on intensive digital X-ray reading, LED-FM and Xpert MTB/RIF testing. The project teams also observed how a mobile clinic operates in the field wherein TB diagnosis is made in the same day.