Tanzania, among the 30 TB/HIV high burden countries, is on track to reach the global targets to end tuberculosis, with a steady decline of tuberculosis incidence over the past 10 years. Still, 128 000 people get tuberculosis every year, and to ensure that we reach everyone with diagnosis and treatment, there is a need to access the hard- to- reach areas and populations.

The three partners MKUTA TB patient organization, Temeke Municipality (Dar Es- Salaam) and Kibong’oto Infectious Disease Hospital (Kilimanjaro) is part of the Tanzania project. MKUTA has have more than 3000 tuberculosis survivors in TB clubs all over the country, doing screening, awareness raising and treatment support.

In Temeke municipality and the districts surrounding Kibong’oto Hospital, the project partners work closely together. Examples of this is joint tuberculosis screening of miners in the Tanzanite mines in northern Tanzania, and community referrals of miners with post- tuberculosis lung disease and/or silicosis to specialized care in the hospital. In Temeke municipality, MKUTA’s resource center for people who use drugs has led to increased access to tuberculosis care for people who use drugs within the municipality, and lung rehabilitation for people with post- tuberculosis lung disease is done jointly by MKUTA’s community volunteers and the municipal health workers.  

The partners also have joint trainings and review meetings and help each other to follow up people on treatment, visit tuberculosis contacts and trace those who have been lost to follow up.

In addition to this, the project supports patients at Kibong’oto that are admitted with drug resistant tuberculosis and severe co-morbidities and / or social challenges. We also contribute to the quality of care through training of staff and follow up by medical experts.