Tuberculosis

TB affects one third of the world’s population predominately in the poorest countries and with the resistance of tuberculosis to all standard treatment regimes spreading TB is now a global health priority.  Effective programme management is crucial to the success of a TB control programme. The regular supply of quality anti-TB drugs and laboratory consumables, quality assured diagnostics, monitoring and supervision systems, decentralization of services, co-ordination with HIV services, advocacy, communication and social mobilization are all critical to the success of a TB control programme. Many countries in the developing world struggle to provide these basic services and so are unable to effectively control the TB epidemic in their populations.

Left preparing TB smears at Dweim Labaoratory. Photo taken by LATH Laboratory Systems Specialist, Russell Dacombe, on a visit to the White Nile State, Sudan to assess the quality assurance of microscopy.