Thailand - Stop TB Partnership

The Public Health Watch TB Monitoring Project partners with civil society
researchers in Bangladesh, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Thailand, all of which
are WHO-designated TB high-burden countries, to monitor and advocate for
improved governmental policies and services to control TB. The five reports
that have resulted from their monitoring efforts reveal a number of overarching
themes regarding TB and TB/HIV.
Researchers all found low levels of awareness of the basic facts about
TB and TB/HIV coinfection among political officials and the general population,
including within high-risk groups such as people living with HIV/AIDS.
Widespread ignorance of how TB is spread and the fact that the disease can be
cured contribute to high levels of stigma and discrimination against people living
with TB. Media coverage of TB is limited, and national TB programs (NTPs)
generally lack strong communications strategies and staff with the experience
and skills to interact effectively with the press.
Reports from all five countries highlight a number of other issues as well.
First, inadequate attention to the linkages between TB and poverty has
resulted in a paucity of government measures to address the hidden costs of
treatment that burden the poor and other vulnerable groups, including women.
Second, the fact that TB patients often rely on private service providers
leads to inequitable access to quality services, constrains government capacity
to monitor the course of the epidemic, and raises concerns about the potential
of increasing resistance to first-line TB drugs.
Third, context-specific approaches to TB control that integrate community
participation are showing positive results but require additional support
and funding from domestic and international sources.
Finally, Public Health Watch research suggests that in the absence of
public awareness and engagement around TB and TB/HIV, political and financial
accountability for TB control efforts falters. At present, there are few structured
mechanisms to encourage broad public participation in the design, implementation,
and evaluation of TB policy at the domestic or international level.
In addition to the common themes and findings outlined in this overview,
country-specific recommendations can be found at the end of each
national report. 1
PUBLIC HEALTH WATCH MONITORING REPORTS 13