Involving NGOs in the fight against TB – Georgia Red Cross Society’s TB activities

In 2011 the Georgia Red Cross Society was actively involved in the preparation of the Country strategy on TB ACSM (advocacy, communication and social mobilization) and strategy annual implementation plan. The GRCS was actively involved in the working process and was defined as responsible for managing work of the other NGOs working in the field and conducting trainings on ACSM for local stakeholders, local decision makers, representatives of media, business representatives, personnel of the regional departments of the NTP, for treatment supporters (volunteers), the GRCS project active beneficiaries and representatives of the 4 NGOs working in the field in the regional centers of Georgia: Tbilisi, Gori, Batumi, Oni and Mestia.

In the reporting period the GRCSadvocacy team consisted of 15 GRCS beneficiaries, volunteers and staff was established; 50 volunteers were mobilized and trained on ACSM to involve them in the relevant activities as treatment supporters; 15 beneficiaries from Tbilisi were mobilised and trained to equip participants with necessary knowledge and skills for conducting ACSM activities; 2-day meeting/workshops were arranged in 4 regions of Georgia (Mestia (Zemo Svaneti), Ambrolauri (Racha), Batumi (Adjara) and Gori (Shida Kartli)) for representatives of the local municipalities, media, and Orthodox Church; Round Table Meeting for stakeholders was organised in Batumi with participation of representatives of the National TB Programme, Batumi City Hall Health Department and Adjara Ministry of Health.

(with the technical and financial support of the International Federation (IFRC) (back donor Eli Lilly and Company))

Ms. Nino Osepaishvili, MD
Health and Care Department Senior Officer