PRIMEX teams up with PBSP and Partners in implementing USAID’s TB Control Project

PRIMEX is a member of a consortium led by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), which has been recently engaged by USAID Philippines to implement its TB Control Project for the Department of Health (DOH). This new project is the successor to the five-year Linking Initiatives and Networking to Control Tuberculosis (TB LINC) Project, which was completed last year.

The project will support DOH in enhancing its leadership and management of the TB program, while empowering the local TB units to “tilt the scale of performance” towards a 70% case detection rate and an 85% cure rate. It aims to significantly contribute to the attainment of the goals of the Philippine Plan of Action to Control Tuberculosis (PhilPACT) strategies. Specifically, it targets to (i) reduce TB prevalence from 502 in 2010 to 375 in 2016, (ii) increase TB cure rate from 82% to 85% in 2016, and (iii) increase TB detection rate for all forms from 73% in 2011 to 85% in 2016.

Despite previous programs, addressing TB-related problems has remained a major public health issue. This is because of uneven political support which has resulted in the inadequate provision of human and financial resources and mechanisms for engaging relevant stakeholders, particularly private providers and communities. The lack of resources has also prevented local National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) units to carry out TB education and information activities, much less deliver behavioral change interventions to TB clients.

The project seeks to develop and expand the service delivery network for TB services that encompass all facets of TB service delivery, including the development of a unified and strategic TB communication plan, localization of its implementation, and building capacities of local TB players for developing a strong constituency for TB control.

PRIMEX’s Senior Vice President, Dr. Florante (Sonny) Magboo, has been detailed to the project as long-term, full-time Monitoring and Performance Management Specialist. Joining him on the PRIMEX team are Dr. Ramoncito Navarro as Training and Capacity Building Specialist and Mr. Robert Martin as IT Specialist.