Linking Initiatives and Networking to Control Tuberculosis (TB LINC)

PROJECT BACKGROUND
 
The Philippines carries the 9th largest burden of tuberculosis in the world. Approximately 390,000 Filipinos have TB, and 75 people die daily from this curable disease.
 
Through the Department of Health’s National Tuberculosis Control Program and with the support of local governments nationwide, the Philippines achieved great strides in TB control in the mid-1990s, when it launched DOTS or "Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course", a cost-effective approach championed by the Philippine Government and endorsed by the World Health Organization.
 
The TB LINC Project is a five-year (2006-2011, extended until 2012) USAID-funded, DOH-led initiative to sustain the coordination and collaboration of TB control partners from both the public and private sectors. TB LINC supports the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals to reduce TB prevalence and mortality by half by 2015, by helping the Philippine government achieve the targets of 70 percent case detection rate and 90 percent treatment success rate.
 
TB LINC is managed by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), a Filipino non-governmental organization. The project provides technical assistance to the National TB Program and works directly with high TB prevalence and low-performing provinces and cities throughout the country, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
 
GOAL
 
To achieve at least 90 percent treatment success rate for TB in participating units
 
PROJECT OBJECTIVES

  1. Improve the policy, financing and regulatory environment for DOTS implementation
  2. Improve systems capacity for quality DOTS implementation
  3. Improve utilization of DOTS facilities and services, and behavior and attitude for TB control and treatment

 
PROJECT COMPONENTS
 
The Project has four major components: 1) policy and financing; 2) systems strengthening, 3) social mobilization and behavior change communication, and 4) private sector participation in TB control.
 
In collaboration with partners, the Project works to achieve the following results:

  1. improved TB policy and financing environment;
  2. scaled-up and sustained private-public mix DOTS (PPMD) units;
  3. strengthened coordination and collaboration among national and local stakeholders;
  4. strengthened human resources and institutional capacity for TB control;
  5. strengthened TB laboratory network;
  6. improved management and supply of quality anti-TB drugs;
  7. improved management of multiple drug-resistant TB;
  8. improved knowledge and health behaviors;
  9. increased community involvement in TB detection and treatment.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION
 
Dr. Dolores C. Castillo, MD, MPH, CESO III
Chief of Party
Linking Initiatives and Networking to Control Tuberculosis (TB LINC)
9th Floor, M. Natividad Bldg., T. M. Kalaw St., corner Cortada St., Ermita, Manila
Tel. No:(632) 567-1434; Telefax: (632) 567-1434
E-mail: dccastillo@pbsp.org.ph