Integrated Control And Management Of Tb Through Palliative Care

HOSPAZ is currently implementing a number of Palliative Care projects which are membership based,  the Kunda-Nqob’iTB (KNTB) project funded by USAID seeks to contribute to the overall reduction in TB incidence and mortality, as well as the elimination of TB-related catastrophic costs, in alignment with the current Zimbabwe National TB Control Strategy (2021-2025).  The project is being implemented in 8 priority districts namely Gweru, Kwekwe, Chirumhanzu, Shurugwi, Zvishavane, Gwanda and Insiza, identified on account of high disease burden and poor treatment outcomes. The districts also have high concentration of artisanal mining communities, an important high-risk group for TB. HOSPAZ, is part of a consortium of local organizations alongside UZT (prime recipient), Baines Occupational Health Services, and Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation (JHWO), whose overarching priority interventions are a mixed model of community and facility-based approaches. Using capacity strengthening interventions as a key strategy, HOSPAZ is responsible for ensuring the integration of palliative care within communities and primary health care delivery system in TB management for the improvement of quality of care and sub-optimum treatment outcomes. The palliative care approach is key in strengthening resilient community systems for adherence support, which will in turn increase treatment success. Empowering communities with adequate knowledge will result in changes in attitudes and practices contributing to TB prevention and positive health-seeking behaviors.