South Sudan became an independent state on July 9, 2011. The young country is grappling with a myriad of problems including several health challenges that, if left uncontrolled, have serious negative implications not only for the general health of people, but also for economic growth. Controlling tuberculosis (TB) is one of these health challenges. This project seeks to strengthen South Sudan's National Strategic Plan for TB Control.
TB control in South Sudan is currently implemented within a weak health infrastructure. Though the national government has shown commitment to mobilizing internal resources to support and expand TB control activities, the lack of coverage, skilled staff, and functional microscopy centers at the county level remain big problems. Controlling morbidity and mortality caused by tuberculosis requires accurate diagnostic services, a steady supply of first line drugs and significant community support.
This project will sustain and strengthen essential TB services and ensure that these services stay functional in health facilities across the country, especially at the Primary Health Care level. By working in partnership with the health sector of South Sudan to create synergies with internal and external funding sources, this project will also ensure that key supportive services at the community level are not interrupted and those with TB will complete treatment.
This project will bring TB services to 9.2 million South Sudanese by 2015, improve diagnoses and successfully treat at least 85% of notified positive TB cases, improve HIV care provider testing and counseling of patients to 85% by 2015, and improve coordination and supervision of TB diagnosis and treatment services at local, state and national levels of public administration.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Excel file (projdoc.xls).
