Tuberculosis and HIV Policy 2012

OBJECTIVE

To decrease the burden of tuberculosis and HIV in The Gambia and more specific to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by TB and HIV.

CONTENT

The Specific Objectives of the Policy are:

• To strengthen the existing coordination and collaboration between tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS programs;
• To decrease the burden of tuberculosis in people living with HIV;
• To decrease the burden of HIV in tuberculosis patients;
• To build capacity of health care workers on TB/HIV. The activities planned under the policy are:
• Strengthen the Mechanisms for Collaboration:
• Organize regular national, regional and facility (care team) coordinating Committees meetings for TB/HIV activities; Conduct surveillance of HIV prevalence among tuberculosis patients; Conduct surveillance of TB prevalence among HIV patients; Carry out joint TB/HIV Planning; Conduct joint Monitoring & Evaluation; Conduct research
•  Decrease the burden of tuberculosis in people living with HIV (“Three I’s”);
• Establish Intensified tuberculosis case finding (ICF); Ensure Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT); Ensure tuberculosis Infection control in health care and congregate settings.
•  Decrease the burden of HIV in tuberculosis patients
• Continue providing HIV counselling and testing; Strengthen HIV prevention activities; Scale up co-trimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT); Scale up antiretroviral therapy (ART).
• Build capacity of health care workers on TB/HIV.
• Train health care workers on TB and HIV; Train health care workers on infection control measures.