Archive for March, 2015|Monthly archive page
March 25th, 2015 | 
: In order to support the National TB Program in introducing new MDR TB treatment schemes, USIAD Georgia Tuberculosis Prevention Project facilitated trainings for TB specialists to ensure adherence to best practices in treatment delivery, to enable optimal drug effectiveness and safety.
The training is highlighted by the Stop TB Partnership Newsletter. The article can be accessed at http://www.stoptb.org/news/frompartners/2015/fp15_037.asp
The TPP, in coordination with the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs (MOLHSA), the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC&PH), Georgian Phthisiologists and Pulmonologists Association and the National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NCTBLD) hosted several activities to mark World TB Day 2015 with the theme “Reach the 3 Million”. The main sub-theme and message for this year was ”Reach, Treat, Cure Everyone”. The campaign included a 1-day scientific conference for TB specialists on March 23, 2015, a high level meeting on March 24, 2015. Street events with participation of students and distribution of information materials and media campaign.
Source: http://tpp.ge/World_TB_Day_2015/b26?lang=eng#.VU-YNpNeIgA
77th CCM meeting was convened on March 6, 2015 at the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia.
The meeting was presided by Mr. David Sergeenko, Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, CCM Chairperson.
The meeting was attended by the WHO HIV mission and French 5% Initiative (FEI) experts. The WHO experts shared with the audience preliminary results of the HIV program review with a particular emphasis on services delivery. FEI experts presented a draft of the HIV National Strategy for final review and endorsement by CCM by the end of March.
The CCM members also discussed a possible scenario for splitting a total Global Fund assistance between the HIV and TB programs.
An important decision made by the CCM general assembly on March 6th was nomination of the current Global Fund grant Principle Recipient-National Center for Disease Control and Public Health to continue this role for the upcoming grants within the New Funding Model.
The decision was made based on extensive discussion by the CCM of PR’s compliance with the minimum criteria for the GF program implementers.
Members having no conflict of interest in relation to this decision unanimously voted through the secret ballot in favor of nominating the center as a PR for the GFATM HIV/AIDS and TB grants.
WHO recommended the use of the Xpert MTB/RIF – an automated nucleic amplification assay for the simultaneous detection of TB and rifampicin resistance directly from sputum in under two hours. In line with these recommendations, Georgia piloted use of the technology in Tbilisi and initiated its roll-out countrywide in 2014. The initiative has been jointly supported by the Global Fund TB project and USAID TPP. The Global Fund TB project has purchased an additional nine GeneXpert machines which arrived into the country early 2015. The TPP supported installation of Xpert MTB/RIF Systems and initial training of laboratory technicians at all selected laboratories including in the penitentiary facilities.
From February 7, to March 11, 2015 9 Xpert MTB/RIF Systems were installed and 16 laboratory technicians were trained in 7 laboratories of NCDC (Gori, Akhaltsikhe, Telavi, Batumi, Ozurgeti, Poti, Zugdidi) and in 2 laboratories of Penitentiary system.