Tuberculosis is one of the important program activities of SMC.
In 2009, SMC implemented Modhumita Program in partnership with FHI 360, through 10 Clinic Operations strategically located across the country to address the TB-HIV co-infection. Trained Sputum Collector from these clinics organized Awareness Raising sessions on TB at the community for screening presumptive and accordingly collected sputum from presumptive cases for diagnosis from the nearest microscopic centers. The detected TB patient was then followed up regularly by the clinic staff. In 2010, SMC developed a drama on TB "Rongila Bao" to air it through its mobile Audio-Visual program in the community. In addition, SMC aired this popular drama through its innovative floating motor launch to raise awareness among the people in the hard to reach riverine areas of Bangladesh. At the same time, SMC started building capacity of its Blue Star Providers across the country to screen and refer of TB presumptive to the nearest service delivery centers in order to improve the case detection rate.
USAID's Alliance for Combating TB in Bangladesh (ACTB) Activity is a Local Organization Network (LON) program funded by USAID. Since 2020, as a consortium member of USAID-ACTB, SMC is playing an important role by engaging its non-graduate Star Network Providers - Blue Star, Green Star and Gold Star in Active Case Findings (ACF) and referral of the presumptive. The program objective is to increase TB case findings from the missing cases through TB presumptive referral.
Under USAID-ACTB, SMC is now implementing its activities in 23 districts where TB prevalence is comparatively higher but case notification has decreased significantly. SMC provides one day basic training on TB to the Star Providers along with technical assistances as required. Till end of FY 2023, SMC trained 3,585 Blue Star Providers, 1,020 Green Star Providers and 388 Gold Star Members received training on TB. SMC also organizes community awareness activities including sputum collection camp, Miking, etc with the assistance of Blue Star Providers. Program staff provide training and supportive assistances to ensure ACF by the GSMs (women entrepreneurs). This activity established a strong linkage with the DOT centers endorsed by the National TB Control Program (NTP) for flawless referral from these networks, proper documentation and record keeping. SMC periodically organizes advocacy and coordination meetings with NTP, staff of Referral Lab for TB Testing and other relevant stakeholders to maximize its efforts in a coordinated way. Through these adopted initiatives and activities, Star Network Providers played a critical role in identifying 8,599 TB cases within this time.
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SMC developed a mobile based monitoring mechanism "Tele-Jiggasha" (telecommunication platform) for counseling and following up of the presumptive and diagnosed TB cases. This platform is also used for counseling and treatment referral for Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs).
SMC is committed to work with the NTP to achieve the End TB targets and goal in 2030 and 2035. Therefore, the company has aimed to expand and implement this ACF activity in all over the country in addition to USAID's ACTB Project implementing areas.
