Topic: Nutrition, nutritional diseases / disorders & Nutrition Programmes.
Question: Describe the key principles of End-TB Strategy. What are the Pillars and Components’ of this strategy?
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The End-TB Strategy is a global initiative aimed at ending the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic worldwide. This strategy was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and includes several key principles, pillars, and components.
Vision
A world free of TB. Zero deaths, disease and suffering due to TB.
Goal
End the global tuberculosis epidemic.
Indicators
- 95% reduction by 2035 in number of TB deaths compared with 2015.
- 90% reduction by 2035 in TB incidence rate compared with 2015.
- Zero TB-affected families facing catastrophic costs due to TB by 2035.
The key principles of World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy are:
- Patient-centered approach: Focus on finding and treating all people with TB, including those with drug-resistant TB.
- Integrated, patient-centered care: Use of decentralized, integrated service delivery which provides comprehensive care for all health needs of patients in a single facility.
- Coalition with all stakeholders: Harnessing and coordinating stakeholders from within and outside health systems, including communities, NGOs, private sector etc.
- Adaptation to local needs: Developing solutions and interventions that are tailored to the needs of health systems and communities.
- Innovation: Adopting and scaling up innovative solutions for improved case detection, treatment success, cost effectiveness, equity and accessibility.
The End TB Strategy has three pillars with 10 components:
Pillar 1 (Integrated, patient-centered care and prevention):
•Early diagnosis of TB including universal drug susceptibility testing
•Treatment of all people with TB including drug-resistant TB
•Preventive treatment of persons at high risk
•Vaccination with BCG and use of new vaccines
Pillar 2 (Bold policies and supportive systems):
•Adoption of WHO standards for TB care
•Engagement of communities
•Investment in research and innovation to develop new tools
•Monitoring systems for accountability, surveillance and impact measurement
Pillar 3 (Mobilization of resources):
•Domestic funding and financial protection of patients
•Technical and implementation support from partner organizations
•Global funding mechanisms to support national plans
Some key interventions under this strategy are:
•Active case finding including ALERT, TRACK TB ,PRIVATE PROVIDER ENGAGEMENT
•Community engagement and accountability
•Digital technologies for patient monitoring, drug resistance surveys and surveillance
•PPM for DR-TB regimen optimization based on individual patient profiles
•Studies on shorter regimens, better drugs, diagnostics, vaccines, new tools etc.
•Global TB financing mechanisms CB/MB funding to allocate resources based on needs.
Careful implementation of this multi-pronged strategy holds the key to ENDING TB by 2035. An integrated approach and optimal utilization of latest tools/technologies will make this vision a reality.