JICA Tokyo: For the end of Tuberculosis - Promote UHC by community engagement -

Aim for the end of Tuberculosis (TB) epidemic

Tuberculosis (TB), one of the 10 leading causes of global deaths, is a major problem in the world. The End TB Strategy and SDGs aim to end the TB epidemic, which requires a multi-sectorial approach by providing integrated TB care and prevention in the context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

At this time, we produced JICA-Net multimedia-based learning materials, "Tuberculosis Control and Community Engagement" (external link), which is intended to be used not only for the remote training of TB control but also in a wide range of the field of health, not limited to TB control, and for self-learning for students who aim to engage in international activities in the healthcare area.

Explains the importance of community engagement and the examples in each country

In the material, Dr. ISHIKAWA Nobukatsu, who belongs to Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti Tuberculosis Association, explains in a lecture-style the effectiveness of community engagement in disease control to strengthen the health system.

In the material, Dr. ISHIKAWA Nobukatsu, who belongs to Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti Tuberculosis Association, explains in a lecture-style the effectiveness of community engagement in disease control to strengthen the health system.

TB services in communities are strengthened by being integrated into the overall health system (UHC), and by being under social welfare protection (SDGs). Moreover, the active community engagement for TB control would make society better and strong as a whole.

In the first half, the material shows the role and importance of community engagement in TB control. In the second half, it presents data and examples of community participation efforts to eradicate TB from Dr. ISHIKAWA Nobukatsu's own experience working in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Japan starting in the 1980s.

Use the material as one of the videos for the on-demand lecture

We received an opinion from a trainee in JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programs such as "The content of the material is useful"

We used the material as one of the videos for the on-demand lecture of JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programs "TB control for the achievement of SDGs in the UHC era", which was performed as remote training, from October 25th to November 12th, 2021.

This program intends that trainees will be able to strengthen TB control programs in their own countries as well as their ability to contribute the promotion of UHC.

In FY 2021, we focused on the impact of COVID-19 on social and economic circumstances and the strengthening of TB control programs under the pandemic and performed remote lectures and discussions about TB case finding, diagnosis, treatment, and solution considering the health system.

In the program, after screening the material in Google classroom, we discussed online based on its content, performed question and answer, and exchanged opinions.

We received an opinion from a trainee such as "The content of the material is one of the most useful in the topics taken in the program and helpful for patient detection and strengthening TB screening"

Although the material shows TB control as a representative example, the effective measures for TB control are able to be applied to other health programs. Especially, because the effort in the community brings the strengthening of a health system, the content of the material is able to be utilized not limited to TB control. We hope that the material would be widely utilized for countermeasures against other infectious disease including COVID-19 and noninfectious diseases.

NAKAZAWA Mihoko
JICA Tokyo

*The Material(s) mainly applied

Tuberculosis Control and Community Engagement

This material explains the effectiveness of community engagement in disease control to strengthen the health system, using the cases of tuberculosis control in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Japan.

The End TB Strategy and SDGs aim to end TB epidemic, which requires multi-sectorial approach by providing the integrated TB care and prevention in the context of UHC. Effective measures in TB control is also applicable to other health programs and especially, community engagement in health program helps strengthening the health system. Therefore, this material focuses on TB control and community engagement.

Suggested uses for this material include training programs in Japan and abroad.

• YouTube (external link)