Innovative Prevention, Detection, and Treatment of TB

The aim of this component is to improve the demand for and availability of high quality TB, TB-HIV/AIDS, and occupational lung disease services in targeted geographic areas of the four participating countries.

Subcomponent 1.1: Enhancing case detection and treatment success Focuses on enhancing early case detection and improving treatment success rates through the rollout of a package of standardised TB prevention and treatment services across the four countries. Subcomponent 1.2: Rolling out a standardised package of occupational health services and mining safety standards across the four countries Focuses on (i) strengthening the capacity of public sector agencies responsible for mine safety to undertake inspection of mines with an emphasis on determining mine dust levels; (ii) expanding periodic screening and referral for occupational lung diseases and other diseases in line with standards set within the sub-region and international best practices; (iii) and developing/strengthening care programmes for occupational lung diseases.

Regional Capacity for Disease Surveillance, Diagnostics, and Management of TB and Occupational Lung Diseases

The aim of this component is to strengthen critical areas of health systems in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of TB and OLD control, as well as improving health system readiness to better respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Subcomponent 2.1: Improving quality and availability of human resources in the targeted areas Focuses on supporting the development of a skilled workforce related to project activities based on a regionally defined curriculum, mentoring, and knowledge sharing in three critical areas: (i) case detection and management of TB; (ii) mine health regulation and occupational services; and (iii) disease surveillance.

Subcomponent 2.2: Strengthening disease surveillance and diagnostic capacity Focuses on (i) strengthening regional diagnostic capacity and networking; (ii) enhancing access to diagnostics for TB and occupational health in the targeted intervention areas; (iii) and enabling participating countries to strategically revamp surveillance systems.

Subcomponent 2.3: Strengthening mine health regulation Focuses on supporting countries to update or draft occupational health and safety legislation; review and/or develop guidelines for mine health inspections, occupational health screening protocols, and compensation systems and guidelines; develop information technology (IT) systems for compliance monitoring and mine health surveillance; and provide equipment for mine health inspection.

Subcomponent 2.4: Supporting COVID-19 response and integrated TB and OLD care Focuses on supporting participating countries to undertake case detection, contact tracing, Port of Entry screening, and disease surveillance.

Regional Learning and Innovation, and Project Management

The main aim of this component is to fund technical support to strengthen regional capacity and promote regional innovation through sharing of knowledge and evidence from interventions implemented under Components 1 and 2. In addition, it supports advocacy for policy reforms and for greater accountability by mining companies on enforcement of occupational and mine health standards.

Subcomponent 3.1: Operational research and knowledge sharing Focuses on supporting research studies that generate knowledge for timely and relevant evidence to inform policy and practice to address the complex, cross-border TB, TB/HIV, and OLD epidemics.

Subcomponent 3.2: Centers of excellence in TB and occupational lung disease control Focuses on ensuring that participating countries have a shared vision to innovate and learn in different technical areas. Each country hosts a centre of excellence to provide regional leadership in key technical areas as follows: Lesotho - communitybased management of MDR-TB; Malawi - community TB care and integrated disease surveillance; Mozambique - MDR-TB and childhood TB management; and Zambia - occupational health and safety.

Subcomponent 3.3: Regional coordination, policy advocacy, and harmonisation Focuses on supporting regional activities that generate economies of scale and deepen learning and knowledge exchange. The project leverages on existing platforms to promote South-South knowledge sharing.

Subcomponent 3.4: Project management Focuses on supporting the work of the Project Implementation Units (PIUs), including financial management, procurement, risk-based auditing, and M&E. This sub-component also supports meetings of inter-ministerial National Technical Committees, the Regional Advisory Committee, and Joint annual review meetings that will be supported at national level and interim reviews in participating districts, as needed.