One-Stop TB Service Center launched

DHAKA, September 21, 2021 — Today,  the Honourable Minister of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) Zahid Maleque, MP, along with the U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R. Miller and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Mission Director Randy Ali have inaugurated Bangladesh's first one-stop tuberculosis (TB) service center (OSTBSC).

With USAID's support, the National TB Program, MoHFW has transformed the 250-bed TB Hospital in Shyamoli, Dhaka, with state-of-the-art testing and laboratory equipment. USAID's Alliance for Combating TB (ACTB) project, implemented by icddr,b has developed a specialised pool of doctors to detect and diagnose the TB, including multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, and provide safe and effective treatment for all forms of TB.  

Consequently, TB patients will no longer require referrals to travel to another facility. They will be able to receive treatment regimens easily and more quickly following their diagnosis, which will significantly increase their chances of beating the disease.  With USAID support, the National TB Program will open four more one-stop TB service centers across the country in the next several years.

The Honourable Health Minister appreciated the idea of the OSTBSC and emphasised scaling up the initiative to other facilities across the country. "One-Stop TB Service Center shows the commitment of the Government to provide patient-centric services. We will continue to expand patient-centric TB services in different parts of the country. This can be considered an example of the collaboration between Government and non-government entities. Our Government is committed to strengthening efforts to control and end TB and achieve the SDG Goals by 2030", said Mr Zahid Maleque, MP. "I am thankful to the U.S. Government for their generous support to the National TB control program in their efforts to make Bangladesh a TB-free country." - added the Minister. 

During the inauguration, His Excellency Ambassador Miller said, "We are pleased to open the doors to this impressive one-stop TB center and help protect the lives of many who are fighting this disease.  This is part of our shared vision between the United States and Bangladesh in helping people across this country strive for healthier and more prosperous lives for themselves and their families."

USAID Deputy Mission Director Randy Ali said, "Improving access to critical testing and treatment services for all forms of TB-especially multi-drug-resistant strains of the disease will help Bangladesh cure many more people through timely treatment while preventing new infections."

Over the past ten years, the United States has invested more than $100 million to advance tuberculosis control efforts in Bangladesh, donated 72 GeneXpert rapid TB testing machines to increase detection and treatment rates, and put positive cases under immediate treatment. 

Mr Lokman Hossain Miah, Senior Secretary, Health Services Division, MoHFW lauded the initiative and shared how ending TB from Bangladesh is one of the priority agendas towards a healthy Bangladesh.

icddr, b's Executive Director, Dr Tahmeed Ahmed said, “USAID’s ACTB is a flagship program of USAID and icddr,b is proud to implement the project partnering with NTP. The activity employs an integrated and inclusive approach in TB program delivery by bringing in new tools and technology to build a linkage between the health systems and the service seekers.”

Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Director General (Health), DGHS, MoHFW reiterated the Government's determination to end TB and take necessary action to make the One-Stop TB Service Center a center of excellence for TB treatment, diagnosis, and operational research. 

Prof Dr Md Shamiul Islam, Director, MBDC and Line Director, TB-L & ASP, DGHS said, “NTP has been working with development partners to strengthen the TB service delivery systems in the country, equipping facilities with required training and logistics, and improving facilities’ capacity”.

Officials from the MoHFW, DGHS, NTP, USAID, icddr,b, 250 Bedded TB Hospital, Shyamoli, Dhaka, media representatives were also present at the inauguration ceremony.

#