WHO Western Pacific Region leads partner efforts to strengthen capacity towards scaling up programmatic response to drug-resistant TB
12 April 2019 | Geneva: Following the release of the 2018 WHO consolidated guidelines on the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis, the Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) of WHO through its Green Light Committee (GLC) mechanism organized a consultant training workshop held from 27-29 March 2019 in Sydney, Australia. A total of 25 experts were equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills, including practical problem-solving, diplomacy and cultural competencies to ensure delivery of high quality support and constructive communication at all levels within the TB programme and government in line with WHO standards.
The workshop enabled the development of a reliable pool of
competent next-generation specialists on drug resistant TB from
across the Western-Pacific Region, to support countries in
scaling up the programmatic management of drug resistant TB.
This in turn is crucial to optimizing investments made by the
Global Fund, USAID, and other donors in country programmes.
The workshop was co-hosted by the Centre for Research Excellence
in TB (TB-CRE) of the Centenary Institute, University of Sydney.
The Burnet Institute, KNCV, the UNION and Australian Respiratory
Council also contributed significantly to the course design and
facilitation. This represents a clear demonstration of effective
collaboration between WHO, government agencies, academic
institutions, international and local NGO partners including
civil society towards country level impact.
The course content covered current technical updates and
transition planning including details of the new WHO policy
changes on multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) treatment, TB
preventive treatment, and infection control. The course also had
a strong focus on laboratory support systems critical for an
effective MDR-TB response including the WHO and FIND technical
guide on the use of next-generation sequencing technologies for
the detection of mutations associated with drug resistance, and
the WHO and GLI detailed guide on the interpretation of line
probe assay techniques. In addition, procurement and supply
management in the context of transition planning was also
discussed. The course paid specific attention on the use of
active drug safety monitoring and management, which is now
recommended for all patients, monitoring and evaluation of the
programmatic management of drug resistant TB, commodities
management, MDR-TB treatment in children and management of
co-morbidities.
The course also highlighted the role of the rGLC as a Global
Fund-supported partnership platform led by WHO solely dedicated
to country support; and provided an opportunity for experience
sharing and lessons learnt by rGLC members and countries on
support provided through the mechanism.
Professor Ben J Marais, Infectious Diseases Clinician, Westmead
Children’s Hospital, and Co-Director, Marie Bashir
Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity (MBI), who was
the lead facilitator of the course remarked: “The course
can serve as a template for other regions as well and its
materials can be useful resources for new consultants in future
missions”. Similarly, Dr Richard Stapledon, the Chair of
rGLC WPRO applauded the conduct of the course saying: “The
overall standard and interest shown by course participants was
excellent and has certainly been a great starting point for
helping to enhance the pool of rGLC consultants in the
region”.
Dr Kefas Samson and Dr Shalala Ahmadova of WHO/HQ and WPRO
respectively, highlighted the necessity of rapid adoption and
implementation of better diagnostic tools and treatment options
at country level as key to achieving the goal of ending TB by
2030 as envisaged by the SDGs. They also communicated
WHO’s strong commitment to intensifying efforts in
continuously reviewing newly emerging evidence to inform such
policies and called for the need to adopt a dynamic approach to
embrace change.
Conveying the general impression of the trained consultants, Dr
Mitz Nisbet, remarked: “We greatly enjoyed the consultant
training course and appreciated the opportunity to learn from
experienced TB consultants across a wide breadth of issues. It
was also a unique opportunity to reflect on our local TB
programmes and to meet many regional experts. Facilitators gave
excellent examples. Overall great experience and
value!.”
Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the WHO Global TB Programme said,
“This workshop organized by the WHO Western Pacific
Regional Office through the rGLC is an important step to build
much-needed capacity to accelerate efforts in the region to
tackle drug-resistant TB and scale up access to TB preventive
treatment. This will be critical as we gear up to reach the bold
targets set in the political declaration of the UN High Level
Meeting on TB.”
The next step will be the engagement and deployment of the newly
trained consultants in rGLC missions to provide the much-needed
support to countries in the Western Pacific region.
Source:
WHO
