Target TB working in partnership with International Medical Foundation (IMF)

Country/regional profile
Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world with over a third of the population, about 9 million people, living below the poverty line.

Uganda is still recovering from the devastating effects of a 20 year HIV pandemic. Approximately 50% of TB cases are also co-infected with HIV. In 2006, Uganda was ranked the 15th highest burden country for TB in the world. It is estimated that there are 80,000 new cases of TB every year, with 25,000 people losing their life to the disease annually.

This project focuses on people living with HIV in the slum areas of Namuwongo district in Kampala. The people of Namuwongo live in poor, shanty-housing conditions and lack access to even basic health services. It is estimated that 13% of the slum population are HIV positive.

Our work with IMF
Target TB has recently started working together with International Medical Foundation (IMF), a Ugandan NGO which aims to make high quality medical care available to all who need it in Uganda. IMF work in collaboration the Ugandan Ministry of Health in TB and HIV control programmes, focusing particularly on urban slum communities with high HIV prevalence.

Project Aims
The project aims to investigate the effectiveness of a new technique, microscopic observation technique (MOT) for TB diagnosis in a low-resource, HIV-prevalent setting.

Project Activities

• A three month trial phase will test the efficiency and effectiveness of MOT as a TB diagnostic method in Uganda.
• Once effectiveness is established, MOT will then be used to diagnose 400 TB suspects referred from a community-outreach programme which focuses on people living with HIV in Namuwongo district.
• An estimated 170 people testing positive for TB will then be treated with drugs provided by the Ministry of Health.
• Community volunteer workers will be trained to provide TB outreach services, including health education, to people living in Namuwongo district.
• IMF’s local partners and peer organisations, including the Ugandan Ministry of Health, will be trained in the use of MOT testing techniques with the intention of rolling out this latest technology countrywide to improve TB diagnosis