Community-Based TB Care: Experience from ... - CORE Group

Community Based TB care through former TB patients’ social clubs2.0 COMMUNITY BASED TB CARE IN TEMEKE2.1 BackgroundTemeke Municipal Council has been involved in community TB control particularly former TBpatients since 1 st July 2003 to date. The collaboration started during the study conducted by Dr.Elliud Wandwalo in the year 2003 which was done collaboratively with Temeke MunicipalCouncil and PASADA. In the study a total number of twenty (20) former TB patients recruited(two per district) for the study and later were oriented on TB and TB/HIV management includingsupervising patients under home based DOT. Each of them was given allowance of 2000/- Tshsper week making a total of 8000/- Tshs per month. The study showed a nice treatment outcomeamong the patints who have been supervised by former TB patients. The study funded by LHL.Following these remarkable achievements, Temeke region facilitated the formation of former TBpatients’ organization known as MUKIKUTE in 2005.Responding to the recorded study results, in year 2006 the region increased the number to 40former TB patients. As the demand increased, in year 2008, the region increased the numberup to 60 former TB patients. Fifty (50) former TB and TB/HIV patients out of 60 are currentlyinvolved to support 230 (11%) TB patients under home based DOT. According to Temekeregional annual report (CBTC report, 2008) 2,912 patients were registered as new cases andout of this, 2,180 (%) were supervised under home based DOT (Temeke region annual report,2008).The Council allocates about 7,000,000/- Tsh. per year to support community TB care activitiesin Temeke.2.2 MUKIKUTEMUKIKUTE is a non–governmental organization working in the community of Temeke Dar-es-Salaam to combat further spread of TB and HIV; and mitigate its impact among the communitymembers who are infected.MUKIKUTE was established on 22 nd February 2005 with 20 members who participated in thestudy in 2003 as mentioned earlier. Through the support of Temeke Municipal Council andPASADA in 2007 the organization was legally and officially registered, as a non-governmentalorganization aimed at increasing community knowledge/awareness on TB and TB/HIV andpromoting positive attitude and support towards people living with HIV (PLWHIV) andTuberculosis. MUKIKUTE stands for “Mapambano ya Kifua Kikuu na Ukimwi – Temeke”,meaning fight against Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in Temeke. The organization has aconstitution which it operates on and currently, there are 60 registered members.Experience from Temeke Page 3