Vietnam’s 2019 tuberculosis (TB) prevalence survey showed that only about 57 percent of the country’s new TB cases are diagnosed and treated. In addition, approximately 63 percent of TB-affected households face catastrophic out of pocket costs, estimated at more than 20 percent of the annual household income, related to TB care. The Erase TB project aims to increase TB detection and access to care; strengthen the capacity of local organizations and private sector providers to engage in the TB response; and accelerate a decline in new TB cases in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.  

ENHANCE CONTACT INVESTIGATIONS

To improve early TB detection and treatment of patients, the Erase TB project will screen household members and close contacts of TB patients using the ‘Double-X’ strategy (chest X-ray and Xpert rapid TB screening and drug resistance testing). In addition, neighborhood contacts will be verbally screened (by asking them questions related to the four standard TB symptoms) and referred for testing. Individuals who are diagnosed with TB will be linked to appropriate care provided by Vietnam’s National TB Control Program (NTP).

ENGAGE PRIVATE PROVIDERS

To increase service quality and reporting by private sector providers, USAID will engage with doctors, clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, etc. to facilitate TB screening using the ‘Double-X’ strategy. The project will also collect TB treatment reports from these providers, verify them, and send the results to the NTP to be incorporated into its surveillance system.

SUPPORT FOR TB-AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS

To reduce the social and financial burden on TB households, USAID will educate patient households about TB and provide them with counselling, treatment support, food, and/or financial assistance to cover travel expenses, enabling TB patients to successfully complete their treatment. The project will also provide healthcare facility staff with psychosocial support training.

EXPAND ACCESS TO RAPID DIAGNOSTICS

To improve access to TB services, USAID will implement community-based mobile chest X-ray screening and Xpert testing. This will detect more cases of TB at an earlier stage of the disease and reduce community transmission, leading to improved TB control in Vietnam.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

EXPECTED RESULTS

USAID aims to test approximately 127,000 people for TB and around 5,600 of them are expected to test positive. These patients will be notified, resulting in a 20 percent increase in TB treatment coverage. The project will also provide over 900 TB patients with social support services to reduce catastrophic costs and improve their quality of life.