KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against tuberculosis (TB), the first deadliest infectious disease in the world. KNCV is an international center of expertise for TB control that promotes effective, efficient, innovative and sustainable tuberculosis control strategies in a national and international context.

We are an organization of passionate TB professionals, including doctors, researchers, training experts, nurses and epidemiologists. We aim to stop the spread of the worldwide epidemic of TB and to prevent the further spread of drug-resistant TB. We operate from a central office in The Hague in the Netherlands, a regional office in Central Asia and country offices worldwide. KNCV raises funds from private, institutional, corporate, and government donors.

Background

Ethiopia is a high TB burden country missing a third of estimated TB cases each year. While under-five children are estimated to constitute 15% of the Ethiopian population, they constituted only about 6-9% of all househo9ld contacts screened for TB, indicating low coverage of preventive therapy in this age group. The current contact investigation practice in Ethiopia is largely passive, however, in some rural areas with organized health extension program, high TB preventive therapy (TPT) were reported.

Treatment of latent TB among children has been a major area of concern with a third of eligible under- five children in the country not receiving the nationally recommended TPT. INH Preventive Therapy (IPT) completion rates have been low or unknown with some sites reporting as low as 12%. Contributing factors to these low TPT initiation and completion rates include lack of awareness both from the provider and patient side, misconceptions about the need for treatment and its effectiveness, lack of treatment support and structural barriers such as shortage of supplies. KNCV will be implementing an innovative project focusing on engaging local indigenous associations called Iddirs in mobilizing women volunteers to support TPT initiation and monitoring treatment completion among under-five children in two zones of Ethiopia (Addis Ababa and Southern Nations Nationalities Peoples Region). KNCV will partner with Love in Action Ethiopia (LIAE) to build the capacity of selected iddirs who will work with community-based volunteer networks reaching mothers and their children. We will work closely with the health extension workers in establishing strong linkage with the health facilities for TPT service. WHO’s recently developed LTBI-Care app will be bused to further strengthen timely reporting of project data. Through the project, we intend to improve initiation of TPT to 98% and improve completion of TPT by 50% from the baseline.

Purpose of the position

KNCV is looking for two TB district coordinators who will monitor the implementation of TB REACH project on improving TPT in Gamo and Gofa zones of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region.

Position in the organization

The district TB coordinators will report directly to the TB Officer for TB REACH project, and will work in close coordination with the LAIE’s project coordinator.