Tuberculosis Training Module for Timor-Leste National TB Programme

Timor-Leste has the 2nd highest TB incidence rate in the WHO South-East Asia Region after North Korea. According to data released by the WHO in 2020, total TB incidence rate in Timor-Leste is 498 per 100,000 population.

The recent Drug Resistance Survey findings revealed that the prevalence of Rifampicin Resistant (RR) TB among new is 0.6% (95% Cl 0.2-1.3) and previously treated TB cases is 2.7% (95% Cl 0.5-8.2) in Timor-Leste are lower than in the surrounding countries of South-East Asia Region. The relatively low prevalence of RR-TB in Timor-Leste is an encouraging finding, but gaps remain in obtaining bacteriological confirmation of TB and routine rifampicin testing

among bacteriologically confirmed cases. Drug Resistant TB (DR-TB) is significantly more difficult to treat compared to Drug-Sensitive TB (DS-TB) with a lower success rate and a higher chance of adverse effects during treatment.

Because of this, treatment of DR TB needs to be given by highly trained medical personnel, competent in management of the DR TB regimen. Another challenge faced in fighting TB is latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI).

It is estimated that the global prevalence of LTBI is 24.8%. With reactivation rate of 5-10%, treating LTBI parallel with active TB, is important

The TB training modules provide the basic information that has to be learnt. Participants should read the module before the webinar/ Training sessions. The course is intended to be conducted in two consecutive days with

allocated time of approximately 6 hours each day. Each topic will be delivered in 45-60 minutes. At the end of each day, participants will have a session focused on discussing and answering topic that has not yet been understood.

WHO is committed to support the NTP and the MoH in its efforts to end TB in the country. In this direction, effective training of all health care professionals with the help of the TB Training Modules, 2021, in line with the revised NTP guidelines (Fifth edition), is of paramount importance.