Community-based tuberculosis screening towards ending tuberculosis by 2030

The U.S. Agency for International Development’s Support to End Tuberculosis (USAID-SET) project has helped many communities in Khanh Hoa Province to end tuberculosis through robust detection, treatment and prevention.

Deploying the highly effective Double X diagnostic strategy within the project, Khanh Hoa Hospital of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases provided Community-based tuberculosis screening and examination for high-risk people in the communes of Dien Thanh, Dien Dien, Dien Lac and Dien Khanh Town in Dien Khanh District on August 1-7.

Taking an X-ray at the screening session in Dien Thanh Commune.

55-year-old Nguyen Dinh Nghia in Dien Thanh Commune has symptoms of prolonged cough, shortness of breath, insomnia, etc. He was invited to a health check which showed he is a suspect of tuberculosis. "According to the doctor's instructions, I will take preventive measures while waiting for test results," he said.

According to Dr. Pham Tan Duc, Director of Dien Khanh District Health Center, after 4 days of tuberculosis screening for more than 700 people, many suspected cases of tuberculosis were detected. This shows the importance of community-based tuberculosis screening. Earlier detection helps minimize the risk of infection in the community.

In July, community-based tuberculosis screening was conducted in Van Ninh District on more than 3,100 people. Double X diagnostic strategy will be deployed in Ninh Hoa, Dien Khanh and Van Ninh.

Vietnam is among the highest tuberculosis burden countries in the world. USAID-SET is developed by Family Health International organization (FHI 360). The project is developed in 6 cities and provinces in Vietnam, including Khanh Hoa.

Project activities deployed in Khanh Hoa Province include improving the quality of tuberculosis service delivery in communities and health facilities in priority provinces; raising access to comprehensive detection, treatment and prevention of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant tuberculosis; increasing the role of local financing in tuberculosis control, health insurance for tuberculosis patients, etc.

Running from October 2022 to December 2023, 6 health facilities benefiting from the project include Ninh Hoa Health Center, Van Ninh Health Center, Dien Khanh Health Center, Khanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital, Ninh Diem General Hospital, Ninh Hoa General Hospital.

USAID-SET target is ending tuberculosis, which is defined as reducing tuberculosis incidence by 90% and reducing tuberculosis mortality by 95% by 2030.

C.D

Translated by N.T