PSI

A unified, regionally coordinated program strategy, built upon the principles of national HIV and TB Strategic Plans, allows the USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project to efficiently achieve program goals while providing a platform for sharing lessons learned and best practices. Activities are designed to complement other programs in the region, requiring active communication and collaboration to provide smooth and harmonized project implementation. Several mechanisms have been established to promote collaboration and shared knowledge across the region.

Regional Oversight Committee

The Regional Oversight Committee (ROC) was established to oversee the implementation of the USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project interventions in the five countries of Central Asia throughout the life of the Project. The ROC functions as a regional consensus group to promote multi-lateral participation and partnership in overseeing of the project, providing expert judgment and support in addressing problems associated with implementation of the Project, as well as promoting full transparency in the project decision-making. The ROC evaluates the midterm results of the USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project, shares regional experience, analyzes obstacles to the project, and develops strategic recommendations for future programming.

The ROC brings together key governmental, non-governmental and international partners implementing National HIV and TB Programs in the Central Asia region (Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Uzbekistan, Republic of Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic and Turkmenistan). Members of the ROC include representatives of the Ministries of Health, Republican AIDS Centers, National TB Institutions, international and non-governmental organizations targeting most-at-risk populations. Meetings of the ROC are conducted annually in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Country Level Working Groups

At the country level, the USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project joined existing country HIV, TB or HIV/TB Technical Working Groups (TWGs) to address country specific HIV and TB related issues. Active participation of the Project in these TWGs is important to monitor and guide country activities and to quickly respond to country level implementation challenges as they arise. These CWGs meet on a regular basis. Key members of the country-level working groups also participate in the ROC, ensuring a flow of information between the regional and country groups.

Round tables

Routine round tables for improvement and expansion of the referral network were introduced in each Project site. At these working meetings, the referral network process is discussed and evaluated, missing services identified and new services introduced. Round tables include health providers and officials, representatives from local administrations, service providers, case managers, and project partners to address potential problems, gaps in service provision and discussion of how to improve the referral system.

Sister Projects

Designed to collaborate closely with complementary USAID-funded projects that aim towards HIV and TB prevention in Central Asia, the USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project collaborates closely with the following sister projects:

Quality Health Care Project

The USAID Quality Health Care Project is a five-year program to improve the health status of Central Asians by building the capacity of public health systems, institutionalizing quality improvement methodologies at all levels of health services management, and empowering communities to respond to health needs, particularly for tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

The USAID Quality Health Care Project will provide technical assistance, training, equipment and commodities to assist the Central Asian Republics to improve the quality, scope, and coordination of health services. By incorporating modern quality improvement techniques and evidence-based international standards into ongoing reforms of health systems, the Quality Project will assist Central Asian countries to improve their management, financing, and implementation of health services related to tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and maternal and child health services and cardiovascular disease.

From late 2010 until late 2012, the Quality Project will build upon the successes of past USAID health reform activities by continuing to improve access to quality public health and primary health care services. From late 2012 until late 2015, the Quality Project will sharpen the focus of its activities to strengthen public health responses to USAID health priorities in the region, especially tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

www.qhcp.net

TB CARE

TB CARE Iis a USAID five year cooperative agreement (2010-2015) awarded to the Tuberculosis Coalition for Technical Assistance (TBCTA) with KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation as the lead partner. The TBCTA is a unique coalition of the major international organizations in TB control:

American Thoracic Society (ATS)
Family Health International (FHI)
International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union)
Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association (JATA)
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation
Management Sciences for Health (MSH)
World Health Organization (WHO)

The aim of TB CARE I is to contribute to reaching the following specific USAID goals in the TB CARE countries with significant investment to:

Sustain or exceed 84% case detection rate and 87% treatment success rate:
Treat successfully 2,55 million new sputum-positive TB cases: and
Diagnose and treat 57,200 new cases of multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB.

TB CARE focuses on five priority areas:

Increasing political commitment for DOTS;
Strengthening and expanding DOTS Programs;
Increasing public and private sector partnerships;
Strengthening TB and HIV/AIDS collaboration; and

Improving human and institutional capacity.