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COMMUNITY-BASED TB DETECTION

In Tajikistan, tuberculosis continues to affect too many families. But no one should face it alone. That’s why the Stop TB Partnership, Tajikistan has built a community-driven approach to detect TB early, protect vulnerable populations and connect people to life-saving care.

At the heart of this work are the amazing TB Support Group Members (TBSGs) and local social workers. These are neighbors, friends and family members who know their communities better than anyone. Working alongside healthcare experts, they plan household visits across jamoats and mahallas ensuring no household is left behind. Their focus is on:

  • Close contacts of people with TB
  • Key vulnerable population groups

Our teams bring both expertise and compassion to every visit. They use:

  • Individual TB surveys - TB cards (ASIL)
  • Portable AI-powered X-Ray devices
  • Sputum collection kits for molecular testing
  • Tuberculin skin tests (Mantoux)

The screening process is thorough and respectful:

  • Close contacts are identified and informed in advance, giving consent for screening. 
  • Individual TB cards are completed for every contact using tablets or paper.
  • At least 10 family members per household are screened with portable AI X-Ray devices.
  • Sputum samples from suspected TB cases are transported to labs for molecular testing (Xpert MTB/RIF).
  • Eligible contacts receive Mantoux tests.
  • Eligible closed contacts are enrolled in preventive therapy (TPT) immediately.

Awareness is just as important as detection. Our teams lead community conversations, meetings and social media campaigns to share life-saving messages about TB symptoms, early diagnosis, treatment and reducing stigma. TB is treatable no one should face it alone.

Behind the scenes, our Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team ensures every effort counts:

  • Coordinate with NTP to ensure medical supplies suffice districts and field challenges/gaps are addressed quickly.
  • Data from the community is validated, analyzed and used to strengthen the TB response.
  • The Performance-Based Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (PBMEF) tracks indicators outcomes, including on case detection, treatment success and TPT completion and guides program improvements in real time.

Community-based TB detection is more than a program it’s a movement of care, courage, and hope. Every household visited, every screening performed and every life touched proves that together, we can end TB in Tajikistan.