Rates of tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis have more than tripled in clinics in the Arusha and Meru Districts of Tanzania, thanks to a pilot project that developed new tools for diagnosis and TB education.

The USAID-funded Tuberculosis Indefinite Quantity Contract (TB IQC) project, led by the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) with partner, Management Sciences for Health (MSH), conducted the pilot project from April to September 2011.

The project team developed a variety of tools to improve TB case detection including an awareness poster, tools for diagnosing adults and children, and standard operating procedures for TB case detection. These tools were used in 12 health facilities during the pilot phase to improve TB case detection and improve providers’ capacity to accurately and efficiently diagnose TB.

The use of educational posters in waiting areas helped increase demand for TB services. For example, in Meru District Hospital, seven TB patients confirmed that they were inspired to test for TB after reading the cough poster at the hospital’s reception desk.

Before the use of this poster, few patients came to TB clinics and laboratories for examination. Only five children in Meru District were diagnosed with TB from April to September, 2010. However, after the facility’s staff began to use these tools, 16 children were diagnosed with TB during the same five-month period in 2011.

Similarly, in Arusha District, health workers diagnosed just 11 children with TB from April to September in 2010 but, after beginning to use the diagnostic tools, the number increased to 37 children during the same five-month period in 2011.

Patients and their families have been pleased to see TB diagnosis and treatment improving as a result of these innovative tools.

“My daughter had attended several clinics without improvement, but doctors in Meru district hospital have done miracles!” said the mother of a 15-year-old girl, co-infected with TB and HIV.

With the use of posters and other job aids, more TB patients are being diagnosed and treated in time for a full recovery.

Dr. Irnei Myemba is a TB-IQC technical advisor & the MSH country coordinator in Tanzania.