Target TB working in partnership with Network Theni
Country/regional profile
India has a population of approximately 1.1 billion people. It is the 12th largest economy in the world, however, despite dramatic economic growth in recent years, over 25% of Indians still live on less than $1 a day.
India has the highest incidence of infectious TB in the world. Untreated cases of TB can be fatal and around 1,000 Indians die of TB everyday.
This project operates in Theni district, in the Southern state of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has one of the highest numbers of people living with HIV in India, and it is estimated that 50-60% of people with HIV in India will develop TB in their lifetime.
Theni is a rural district where two-thirds of people depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Many people work as daily wage labourers in the fields; ill health from TB can result in a person being unable to work which can put the whole family’s welfare at risk.
A community volunteer from Network
Theni monitors a patient’s adherence
to TB treatment
Our work with Network Theni
Target TB has a long established partnership working with 6 local Indian NGOs who together form a network. Through this network, TB and HIV health and support services are being provided to over 325,000 people.
Project Aims
- To reduce TB transmission and development of multi-drug resistance through improving TB case detection and cure rates
- To lead in the adoption of best practice approaches to TB and HIV control, particularly community involvement.
- To carry out operational research to demonstrate the effectiveness of the network’s activities and use this to advocate for improvements to TB control both locally, nationally and internationally.
Project Activities
- Mobilising and coordinating field workers and community volunteers to carry out TB control activities including referral to testing centres, DOTS monitoring, and home-based care and support services.
- Carrying out TB awareness campaigns to improve the general public’s understanding of TB.
- Working in partnership with government health services to ensure best practices for TB treatment and improving access to basic health care facilities.
- Strengthening the local support network for people affected by TB and HIV.
- Working in collaboration with the Foundation for Research in Community Health (a unit of Maharashtra Association for Anthropological Science) to carry out operational research activities.