Review of TB prevention and control interventions including the National TB Control Programme
Azerbaijan, 11-18 April 2012
Preamble
On the request of the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan and WHO/Europe Regional Director’s instruction, WHO/Europe Tuberculosis and Multidrug and extensively drug-resistant TB (TBM) programme conducted an extensive programme review to TB prevention, control and care in Azerbaijan 11 – 18 April 2012 The country has received several technical assistance missions every year by WHO/Europe and its partners, including Green Light Committee/Europe mission in 2011.
Mission objectives
- To document the progress and shortcomings in TB prevention, control and care;
- To identify legislative and structural barriers in the health system that prevent an effective response to TB epidemic, including TB/HIV co-infection;
- To assess role of social determinants of TB (drug dependence, HIV/AIDS, stigma, social exclusion, etc.) and response of the health system to them;
- To visit TB and related health facilities including laboratories, and report on quality of services;
- To analyse epidemiological data, accuracy of recording and reporting and TB monitoring system;
- To assess the links, synergies and opportunities for TB control in relation to health system strengthening and other disease specific interventions, including management of TB/HIV;
- To assess the role and involvement of civil society in TB prevention and control;
- To assess partnership, coordination and collaboration on TB control with national and international stakeholders including the Ministry of Justice;
- To provide the Ministry of Health and other partners with a comprehensive set of recommendations and a prioritised action plan to improve TB prevention, control and care in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Process
With the assistance of WHO Country Office and in close coordination with the National TB Control Programme, the financial support of the Global Fund and participation of partners including United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United States Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), Global Drug Facility (GDF) among others, a team of 15 international experts conducted the country programme review.
The team of international and national experts assessed the achievements, strengths, shortcoming and weaknesses of the National TB Programme based on the following approaches: review of relevant documents and reports of previous visits; conducting site visits (of relevant institutions and facilities); and interviews (with policy makers, health providers and beneficiaries, general population, main national and international partners).
The teams interviewed governor offices, chief district doctors, chief TB doctors, health care staff, Hygiene – Epidemiological Centers (HEC) Policlinics, TB laboratory services, HIV/AIDS centres, substance abuse treatment centres, NGOs and country coordination mechanism members and patients. The Specialised Treatment Institution for Detainees with TB (STID TB) of the Ministry of Justice was visited and the meeting was held with the prison health authorities. Selection of the districts and sites was suggested by the review team and agreed with the national TB programme.
TB prevention, control and care interventions were assessed based on the six health system building blocks.
