The Public Health Association has set a new pathway, aimed to tackle the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in the nation’s capital.
The work that started back in 2014 came to fruition last night as partners in the TB space gathered in Port Moresby to launch the NCD TB project.
This project, different from others and first-of-its-kind, uses a community-based approach with the help of three key partners: ChildFund PNG, Family Health International 360 and World Vision.
These partners will be responsible for program implementation in each of NCD’s three electorates – Moresby North-West (CF PNG and Medecin Sans Frontiers), Moresby South (FHI 360) and Moresby North-East (WV).
Dr Nico Wuatai, Public Health Director NCDHS, made particular mention of the community treatment partner program.
He says the idea of the program is to engage someone in the community to follow the treatment progress of each TB patient within their community.
“These are ordinary people that will be recruited and trained and their main responsibility is to supervise all TB treatments in their communities,” he said.
All partners signed the MoU with the National Department of Health and NCD Health Services.
The government of Australia is funding each of the partners with A$1m each in the next 12 months to implement this project.
Dr Wuatai is confident this approach will see the treatment cure rate reach 95 percent and default rate reduced to less than 5 percent, and basically improve their TB