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TB Physician Dr. Stenard Hiashiri Reviewing A Chest X Ray Of A Patient With Tuberculosis NO Patient ID 510X288

RID-TB: Reducing the Impact of Drug-Resistant TB in Western Province, Papua New Guinea

Past project

Since August 2014, Burnet Institute has been a partner in a multi-stakeholder response to the major tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in Western Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Objective

Daru Island is at the centre of this epidemic where there is transmission of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB). The rates of drug-resistant TB in Daru are among the highest documented globally. This outbreak is a major public health threat with enormous health, social and economic costs to people living in Western Province.

There is limited funding and health systems capacity, nationally and provincially, to respond effectively to this issue. Major constraints in the health systems include a shortage of human resources with the relevant experience to respond to an epidemic of this magnitude and technical complexity.

Reducing the Impact of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (RID-TB), is a project funded by the Australian Aid program via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Through this project Burnet is responding as the technical lead in the design, monitoring and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the TB epidemic and care for people affected.

In doing so, Burnet is working in close partnership with the Western Provincial Health Office (PHO), Daru General Hospital (DGH), World Vision and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The challenges of responding to DR-TB in Western Province require that partners work together to establish effective systems for paDent-centred care, and to implement outbreak response measures to halt the epidemic.

The uptake of new tools, interventions and strategies is crucial to accelerate the response. Time is of the essence in the response – delays in achieving an effective response will allow drug resistant TB to continue to spread; resulting in preventable suffering and death.

Delays in getting on top of the outbreak will also increase the costs of bringing the epidemic under control in the future.

Approach

In recognition of these challenges, Burnet is providing support to the province for:

  • development of plans and priority activities for a timely, effective response
  • the design and rapid implementation of effective systems for TB diagnosis, care and treatment focussing on case management at DGH
  • the uptake of new tools, interventions and strategies that will accelerate the response to TB
  • monitoring, evaluation and analysis of the response
  • clinical support and capacity development for TB program staff.

Timeline

Phase 1

August 2014–June 2015.

Phase 2A

December 2015–December 2018.

Phase 2B

January 2019–December 2021.

Partners

Funding partners

Supported by the Australian Government via the PNG Australia Transition to Health (PATH) Program.

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Project contacts

Dr Khai Lin Huang

Dr Khai Lin Huang

Co-Head Tuberculosis Elimination and Implementation Science, Senior Research Fellow
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Project team

Associate Professor Suman  Majumdar

Associate Professor Suman Majumdar

Chief Health Officer - COVID & Health Emergencies; Deputy Program Director, Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness; Principal Research Fellow
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Dr Aung Aung

Dr Aung Aung

TB Specialist – Public Health
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Geoffrey Chan

Geoffrey Chan

Health Systems and Strategic Information Specialist
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Dr Philipp du Cros

Dr Philipp du Cros

Co-Head Tuberculosis Elimination & Implementation Science; Principal Research Fellow
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Professor Steve  Graham

Professor Steve Graham

Honorary Staff
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Gabbi Hamilton

Gabbi Hamilton

Project Officer
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Dr Khai Lin Huang

Dr Khai Lin Huang

Co-Head Tuberculosis Elimination and Implementation Science, Senior Research Fellow
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Billy Inkharm

Billy Inkharm

IT/Data Entry Officer
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Dr Stobdan Kalon

Dr Stobdan Kalon

RID TB Project, Disease Elimination; Head, Tuberculosis Elimination & Implementation Science
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Tess  Keam

Tess Keam

Social Worker
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Dr Elmaretta Kemba

Dr Elmaretta Kemba

Tuberculosis Medical Officer
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James Lawson

James Lawson

Program Manager / Country Program Manager
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Dr Dani Lin

Dr Dani Lin

Infectious Diseases Specialist
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Dr Tafireyi  Marukutira

Dr Tafireyi Marukutira

TB Specialist – Public Health
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Christopher Masah

Christopher Masah

Registered Nursing Officer (RID TB Nurse)- Public Health Team
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Alexa Murray

Alexa Murray

Senior Research Officer & Project Manager
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Naomi Pank

Naomi Pank

Public Health Nursing Specialist, Co-Lead SWEEP-TB Project
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Oretha Paye-Mehngonzeh

Oretha Paye-Mehngonzeh

TB Specialist (Nursing & Counselling)
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