Kathmandu: The National Tuberculosis Control Center (NTCC), under the Ministry of Health and Food Safety, with support from WHO, conducted a three-day national training in May. Health-care workers from 24 DR-TB treatment centers across all seven provinces participated to strengthen their skills in TB case management. The sessions combined technical presentations, case study discussions and updates on WHO guidelines. The training was followed by onsite coaching and mentoring visits.
Teams from NTCC, the National TB Reference Laboratory and WHO conducted onsite coaching and mentoring visits in four centers from Bagmati and Madhesh provinces. Using a standardized checklist, teams assessed key areas across the TB cascade of care, including DR-TB case identification, diagnosis, treatment initiation, monitoring and follow-up management. The assessment also covered adverse TB drug safety monitoring and management (aDSM) implementation, patient care and support services, infection prevention and control (IPC), as well as recording, reporting, and health information management systems.
WHO Nepal stated that the field assessments revealed challenges including delays in specimen transportation for advanced testing, gaps in treatment initiation and follow‑up monitoring, and the need for stronger patient support systems.
They further emphasized that through continued capacity building support and regular supervision, the NTCC aims to improve the quality of care of DR-TB nationwide. These efforts are expected to enhance the knowledge and skills of health-care workers in managing DR-TB patients and monitoring adverse events, alongside improving the quality of recording and reporting, and strengthening coordination and communication between NTCC, the National TB Reference Laboratory and DR-TB treatment centers. Sustaining investment in these areas will be critical to advancing Nepal’s fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis.
