The five-year programme will lead to not just a better understanding of the spread of TB in border hotspots, but result in teams of volunteers being trained to spot cases and help the sick complete their treatment regimes, as well as ensure legal and illegal migrants gain access treatment at Thai public health facilities.

The potentially deadly respiratory disease has been virtually eradicated in developed countries but remains prevalent in border areas where six-month observed treatment (DOT) is not widely implemented.

Tuberculosis is one of the top ten causes of death in Thailand and, together with HIV and AIDS. Border areas are susceptible to drug-resistant strains of TB, especially among migrant populations because they have either poor or inconsistent access to health care or fail to complete their TB medication regimes.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria awarded US$9.3m to World Vision Foundation of Thailand (WVFT) as part of a US$19.6 proposal that is shared between World Vision and the Thai government’s Ministry of Public Health. The programmes target respectively migrant workers and Thai workplace populations. Both entities are principal recipients, receiving and managing the grant.

World Vision’s programme will oversee TB responses in six border provinces where TB prevalence is far higher than the national prevalence of 204 cases per 100,000 of population.

In Mae Sot (Tak), northwest Thailand, where the situation is at its worst, large numbers of legal and illegal migrants enter Thailand for short-term employment or healthcare before returning home to Myanmar. Their susceptibility and that of their families to the disease has been difficult to assess or treat.

World Vision Foundation of Thailand and the American Refugee Committee (ARC) will implement the WV-managed programme.  Between them they will work among migrant populations in Tak, Kanchanaburi, Phuket, Phang Nga, Ranong and Chumporn.

WVFT’s Global Fund Principal Recipient manager, Dr Jaruwaree Snidwongse, who helped design the project, said the true picture of TB in these border communities is little known.

“TB prevalence is particularly difficult to assess because of the transient nature of migrant workers in these areas,” said Dr Jaruwaree. “We just do not know enough about the prevalence of TB among migrants and it is critically important that we do because TB deaths are rising as the bacteria becomes immune to existing treatments. If migrants are not treated properly not only will they be at increased risk but so will the wider populations of Myanmar and Thailand. Many thousands of migrants, including children, are in real need of protection and treatment.”

The programme aims to reach 135,000 non-Thai migrants with treatment, education or services, with spin-off education and awareness reaching another estimated 700,000 migrants and Thais.

According to the WHO the TB mortality rate for Thailand is 19 per 100,000 population. Thailand has a population of 64.2 million (2005 figures).

The other Principal Recipient is The Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Disease Control.  They are focusing on addressing TB largely among the Thai workforce. They are working through three sub-recipients.

World Vision Foundation of Thailand has been operational in Thailand for more than 30 years, and working on migrant issues for more than 15. It currently runs mobile and stationary health clinics in a number of border locations.  The organization also works on a range of other issues, including community development, child protection, education, health, micro-enterprise and emergency relief, and is present in 50 provinces.

Dr Jaruwaree Snidwongse, Global Fund Principal Recipient manager, has been with WVFT for 2 years. She has a background in molecular biology and bio-technology, having studied both in Thailand and the UK.  While working with World Vision she has undertaken reproductive health projects, including HIV and AIDS, in the tsunami-affected and other areas.

Contacts:
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For more information:

About World Vision
www.wvasiapacific.org

WHO country report on TB
www.who.int/globalatlas/predefinedreports/tb/PDF_Files/tha.pdf
www.stoptb.org/countries/GlobalReport2007/reg/sear.pdf

The Global Fund
www.theglobalfund.org