Why is TB preventive therapy (TPT) important in your community?
TB preventive therapy is critical in Malawi, taking into serious consideration high HIV prevalence and TB/HIV co-infection. Use of 3HP and the new WHO-approved regimens is a step towards ending TB and achieving the 2035 End TB targets.
Can you describe the major goals of your IMPAACT4TB advocacy project? How will your work advance access to TB preventative therapy in your country?
The advocacy work of JournAIDS is building a strong policy response to ensure that the Ministry of Health, Nationa TB Program (NTP) and all key policy and decision-makers adopt 3HP and TPT and ensure that all Malawians have knowledge on TPT as a way of reducing TB related deaths.
What gaps do you think are important to address?
Many people in Malawi still have a low knowledge base on the benefits of TPT and 3HP. It’s critical that all policies on TB and HIV are well linked, provide a path for scale up and access to 3HP on a wider scale, and take pricing into account. In addition, most civil society organizations (CSOs) in Malawi lack the capacity to implement TB interventions. This is also compounded by lack of TB domestic funding.
What does it mean for you to be an IMPAACT4TB grantee?
Joining the IMPAACT4TB family as a grantee is a huge milestone. It places us at the center of enriching our knowledge on TB and aids us in creating a strong platform to respond to TB as one of the key health emergencies in policy and community responses.