India bears the world’s highest TB burden and is also the world’s largest democracy. Although India’s Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) has made great strides and achieved global targets for case detection (70%) and treatment success (85%), as stated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and related Stop TB Partnership’s Global Plan 2006-2015, much work still remains to be done since there is large scale variation in achievement of these targets between different states as well as between different districts. Meeting these targets requires responses that not only consolidates and sustains current achievements uniformly across states and districts in the country, but also expands and increases access to quality TB Care for all.

Keeping in view the current status of TB control in the country VHAI has initiated TB control activities in 6 selected districts of Punjab as pilot for one year for trying out various interventions. The overarching objective of this initiative is to bring together and synergies civil society contribution to TB care in the country, and progress towards achieving the goals of the Global Plan to Stop TB 2006- 2015 and the relevant MDGs. VHAI is supporting the under-performing districts to uniformly achieve the global targets of 85% treatment success and 70% detection rates, reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation, and strive for the implementation of Patient Centered Care for all TB patients, including those with MDR-TB and TB-HIV.

Aim of the program - The Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) TB Control Program aims to work closely with the RNTCP at the state and district level through a network of community volunteers, local NGOs, ASHAs and local bodies (Municipal Corporations, Pradhans and PRI members) and Village Health and Sanitation Committee (VHSC) members working in the respective districts or target area. The programme strives towards increasing the awareness of TB and its related issues, mobilizing local bodies (Panchayati Raj) and involving the patients, affected families, traditional healers, and community volunteers through the formation of patient support groups so as to facilitate complete treatment and reduction in stigma and discrimination. It is envisaged that this programme will improve the engagement of all care providers, and their interface with the general health systems and with the RNTCP.

The present intervention is for 6 selected districts of Punjab as pilot for one year for trying out various interventions not only for showing impact but also for gaining sufficient learning for implementation of GFTAM R VIII if approved.