Diagnosing and Treating Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

HAI spearheaded the creation of a unified national database to track drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) across Mozambique and help link patients to treatment. 

In Mozambique, HAI worked in partnership with the National Tuberculosis Program to build a unified national database of tuberculosis drug resistance in Mozambique.  In addition to equipping the health system with additional TB detection equipment (LED microscopy) HAI piloted the use of a DNA-based test that also tests for drug resistance (GeneXpert). Since the successful pilot, GeneXpert use has been scaled nationally in Mozambique.

HAI also piloted and scaled up a real-time electronic results and reporting platform called GxAlert—which produces routine clinical reports for use by provincial TB and DR-TB supervisors throughout the country—and tied it to the National Tuberculosis Laboratory Information System to ensure that patients in their respective provinces are getting into treatment. 

These efforts have helped to improve standardized reporting of known TB cases, and reduce the large pre-treatment lost to follow-up gap between patients diagnosed with DR-TB and those started on treatment.

HAI-LIGHTS

HAI in partnership with the Mozambican NTP piloted the use of a novel molecular or DNA based test for TB that also tested for drug-resistance called GeneXpert. GeneXpert has since been scaled nationally, and now accounts for over 80% of all patients diagnosed and treated with DR-TB

Following the rapid scale-up of GxAlert, with the ability to capture over 90% of all GeneXpert test results in the National unified DR-TB database, linkage to care for RR-TB patients diagnosed by Xpert increased from ~50% in 2012-2015 to 87-90% in 2018.

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News/Media

The impact of intensified TB screening at health facilities and via contact tracing in central Mozambique Abstract, 50th World Conference on Lung Health, 2019, Hyderabad, India
Pilot of weekly ECHO model videoconferencing system in Mozambique to review complex drug-resistant TB cases Abstract, 50th World Conference on Lung Health, 2019, Hyderabad, India
Proof of concept: integrated tablet-based hearing and ECG testing for Mozambican patients with drug-resistant TB Abstract, 50th World Conference on Lung Health, 2019, Hyderabad, India
Harnessing systems integration: multi-device connectivity in Mozambique Abstract, 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health, 2018, The Hague, The Netherlands
The experience of developing an MDR-TB ECHO programme in the country of Mozambique Abstract, 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health, 2018, The Hague, The Netherlands
The effects of Xpert® MTB/RIF testing and GxAlert on MDR-TB diagnosis and linkage to care in Mozambique Abstract, The 48th Union World Conference on Lung Health, 11–14 October 2017 Guadalajara, Mexico
Increasing Access to TB Diagnosis
and Strengthening the TB Care Cascade
Stop TB Partnership, 2016
Finding and Treating People with TB in the World’s Poorest Communities Stop TB Partnership, 2014

Funding

[2018-2020] Optimizing the safety of drug resistant-TB treatment with mobile audiometry and ECG testing to prevent complications.

This project received funding support from the Stop TB Partnership.

[2017-2018] Improving Diagnostic, Linkage to Care, and Routing Reporting for TB, MDR/RR-TB and XDR-TB Patients in Mozambique.

This project received funding support from the Stop TB Partnership.

[2014-2016] Strengthening the Tuberculsis Care Cascade in Central and Southern Mozambique.

This project received funding support from the Stop TB Partnership.

[2011-2014] Increasing access to sensitive and rapid TB diagnostics (GeneXpert) to improve TB diagnosis in Sofala and Manica Provinces, Mozambique.

This project received funding support from the Stop TB Partnership.

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Our Mission

Our mission is to promote policies and support programs that strengthen government primary health care and foster social, economic, and health equity for all. Our vision is a just world that promotes health and well-being, including universal access to quality health care.

Our History

Health Alliance International began in 1987 as a US-based international solidarity organization committed to supporting the public sector provision of health care for all.  Over 35 years, HAI conducted programs in 17 countries, with flagship programs in Mozambique, Côte d'Ivoire, and Timor-Leste.

Our Evolution

In line with HAI’s commitment to support and strengthen local public health leadership, as of October 2021, HAI fully transitioned global operations and active programs to locally-based, locally-led NGOs. Learn more about this shift toward local autonomy and equity in global health.

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