Sudan expressed its hope that with concerted efforts of various partners TB will stop in this lifetime. This year’s theme of ‘Stop TB in this lifetime’ was relayed through various forms and by different groups through-out the whole month of March, organized by the National TB Programme (NTP) with the World Health Organization’s (WHO), private and public sectors support.

World TB Day in Sudan

The celebration in Sudan was highlighted by the event in Wad Madani in Gezira State on 26 March 2012. Like any other important events in Sudan, the World Tuberculosis Day 2012 event was celebrated in a fes-tive mood with young and old marching in the streets to the rhythm of music played by the band. The day gathered students, health workers, members of TB patients association as well as government officials at the Culture Palace of Gezira state. On top of speeches, there were songs and drama skits presented as a way to impart messages to the audience.

The fight against tuberculosis has been boosted with commitment from various stakeholders from the pri-vate and public sectors – the Government, civic organizations and associations, as well as from UN agen-cies. In addition to Dr Heba Kamal (NTP Manager) and Dr Aayid Munim (WHO TB Medical Officer), Dr My-soon Bokhari (UNDP/Global Fund Deputy Director) and Sudan’s TB Ambassador Dr Awad Ibrahim Awad were in the occasion to assure the public of continuing support to combat TB. Furthermore, statements of strong commitments were shared by the Minister of Health Gezira State Dr Alfatih Mohammed Malik, the State Minister of Health Mr Al-Khair AlNur AlMubarak, and the Deputy Governor of Gezira State Mr Mo-hammed Alkamel Fadelalla.

Organizations such as Sudan TB Patients Association, Women Union and the Sudanese Red Crescent So-ciety supported the event.

Sudan’s military supports the fight against TB

Before the event in Gezira State, activities were also con-ducted in the regions and Khartoum to help raise awareness on tuberculosis and consequently advocate for support in the fight against the disease. One of the significant activities was the World TB Day celebration in one of Sudan’s military camp in Khartoum. Organized by the Directorate of Medical Services of Sudan’s military force, the occasion was at-tended by soldiers and military officials.

WHO Representative in Sudan Dr Anshu Banerjee empha-sized the need for rapid, concerted and sustained action against TB. He also added that this can be addressed by expanding partnerships with the private sector and by solicit-ing stronger political support.

During the event, government’s support to the fight against TB was echoed through the speech of the Chief of Weapons and Ammunition Force who also underlined that the military has always been combatting the disease by raising aware-ness among the different echelons of the armed forces, and has committed to continue to support the cause.

In addition, awards were given to the movers behind the fight against TB in Sudan including Sudan’s NTP Manager Dr Kamal, WHO’s Dr Munim and Dr Elsadig Abdalla Munim, the Director of Public Health and Emergency Director of Su-dan’s military.

Sudan’s fight against TB

Sudan carries 15% of the TB burden in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. In 2011, the estimated incidence of new smear-positive cases was 119 per 100,000 populations. This gave a total estimation of 17,850 new smear-positive cases. In addition, it has been estimated that the prevalence of all TB forms was 188 cases per 100,000 populations (82,000 prevalent cases).

Tuberculosis care and treatment is provided by the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) with full sup-port from WHO and its partner. Although the TB Programme has scaled up TB care based on directly observed treatment short courses (DOTS), TB has remained a public health emergency in Sudan. The programme was faced by challenges including several gaps affecting TB control. The gaps were TB care in conflict areas, quality of DOTS, and the incomplete TB care for other important areas like multi-drug resistance (MDR)-care, private-public mix (PPM), as well as advocacy, communication, and social mobilization (ACSM).

 

What’s in store in 2012

To increase the adherence to treatment and decrease the defaulters’ rate, a task force will be established between TB staff at central unit and state level to ensure synchronized activities and coordinated actions.

With the recognition of the importance of volunteers such as the Sudan TB Patients Association and other volun-teer networks that have been helping decrease the default rate, partnerships with these groups will be strength-ened. Subsequently, TB advocacy activities will implemented through the volunteer groups. In addition, ensuring sustainability of the partnership with NGOs and public and private care providers could improve the services deliv-ery especially in war affected and post conflict areas.

Like many other countries around the world, Sudan has also been challenged by MDR-TB. There is a need to strengthen MDR diagnosis and management by activating the zonal labs, establishing clinics for MDR cases, regular follow-up of cases at state level, and provision of support to patients.