Engaging the transport industry in Tuberculosis prevention and infection control.

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Engaging the transport industry in Tuberculosis prevention and infection control.

Kenya
Organization type: 
nonprofit/ngo/citizen sector
Project Stage:
Growth
Budget: 
< $1,000
Website:
http://www.kaptld.info
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Project Summary
Elevator Pitch

Concise Summary: Help us pitch this solution! Provide an explanation within 3-4 short sentences.

A leading reference organization that provides world-class Lung Health Solutions through Partnership,Advocacy,Research&Innovation,Education,Training& support.

About Project

Problem: What problem is this project trying to address?

Ignorance on the disease; by providing correct information on the disease including but not limited to sign and symptoms, transmission and prevention, all aimed at behavior change Defaulting on treatment; by emphasizing the importance of seeking treatment early, seeking correct and appropriate treatment, the treatment procedures and duration, possible drug side effects and the importance of completing prescribed. Demand for proper and correct, quality services

Solution: What is the proposed solution? Please be specific!

Training matatu crews to provide correct information on the disease including but not limited to sign and symptoms, transmission and prevention, to encourage and initiate behavior change Encouraging TB suspects to seek treatment early, seek correct and appropriate treatment; advice them on the treatment procedures and duration, possible drug side effects and the importance of completing prescribed treatment. Through the engagement of the transport industry we will have a well informed society that seeks and demands correct and appropriate TB services Information is power, power to make the right informed choices
Impact: How does it Work

Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.

Kongowea, Mombasa, one of the regions where the solution was piloted, had 9 Matatu crew members who had previously suffered from TB, with 5 admitting they defaulted on their treatment due to drug side effects and stigma associated to the disease in relation to HIV/AIDS. Most of them admitted they rarely have time for or cannot afford a decent well balance meal. Due to time constrains and lack of information, their health seeking behavior was also wanting with most opting for cough syrups from the chemists and drug stores while others sought the services of traditional healers and herbalists. These practices, they learnt during the training, lowered their immunity making them susceptible to infections among them TB and the lack of proper and appropriate treatment made the disease worse.Upon completion of the training they were screened for TB and 7 were put on treatment including the 5 that had defaulted.They were then provided with IEC materials which included a facility directory for easier referrals, branded T-shirts and asked to put in place TB infection control measures such as asking the commuters to open the windows for proper ventilation and to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing,to talk to commuters about TB being that they had suffered from the disease and were on or had completed treatment,escorted those who had experienced sign&symptoms of the disease to the nearest government health center for further investigation and treatment.During this period of engagement Kongowea health facility recorded a 39% increase in TB case finding.
Sustainability

Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?

Peers • Government • Matatu owners associations • Matatu welfare association • Matatu saccos • CBOs Competitors • Matatu saccos • CBOs What differentiates us? • Technical know-how • Working with the government through PPM • We have innovative ideas of engagement Challenges: • As a way to attract and retain members the associations and saccos are introducing wellness solutions at the workplace including health talks on TB • Busy schedules • Too much information to disseminate Other players picking on the solution e.g gender violence organizations using crews to pass the anti gender violence message
Team

Founding Story

Stuck in traffic headed to a health center for a meeting, we noticed most matatus had very misty windows as none of them had their windows open making them fertile grounds to spread airborne infections such as TB. At the health center we were informed that most of the defaulters were matatu crew members. We decided to engage the transport industry through our workplace program, starting with the Matatus, given that approximately 92% of the Kenyan population will use this mode of transport daily.
About You
Organization:
KAPTLD
About You
First Name
Last Name
About Your Organization
Organization Name

KAPTLD

Organization Country
Country where this project is creating social impact
How long has your organization been operating?

More than 5 years

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Innovation
How long have you been in operation?

Operating for 1‐5 years

Which of the following best describes the barrier(s) your innovation addresses? Choose up to two

Access, Cost, Quality.

Social Impact
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve

Goal: Stop the spread of TB and TB related deaths
This we hope to achieve through:
• Behaviour change; for the longest time possible there has been a lot of stigma associated to TB due to the HIV epidemic we hope to change this by showing the public that TB and HIV are two different diseases, That TB is curable and there are simple measures we can take to prevent TB Infections and Disease.
•Intensified case finding; Through this engagement we are able to get more TB suspects, who would have otherwise not made time, to seek proper diagnosis and treatment.
•Adherence and completion of treatment; With proper advice on treatment and possible drug side effects, and having DOT supports to encourage them, the patients will be more psychologically prepared to take up and complete treatment

What has been the impact of your solution to date?

• Use matatu crews as TB advocates : Over 1500 crews trained. In turn they have reached out to over 10,000 passengers
• Interesting way of disseminating disease information: this is done through branding the matatu, playing clips on TB and the crews giving talks on TB during the journey
• Better treatment support and adherence: The crew members act as DOT supporters for those they encouraged to seek treatment
• TB screening camps held at bus stops have helped demystify the disease and seen over 5,000 people educated on screened of TB with the help of the matatu crews
• Increased case finding: regions engaged have reported 12%, 23% and 48% increased case finding respectively

What is your projected impact over the next five years?

• Changing the perception on the disease
• Infection control
• No stigma
• Proper health seeking behaviour

What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?

• Level of education among matatu crews: through our trainings the illiterate ones will be linked up with adult education classes upon completion they will able to articulate the issues related to TB

• Time schedules: We hope to train more crews so that at any one time each matatu has a driver and conductor who is trained on TB

Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact

Train more crews and expand to other regions and modes of transport.

Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your six-month milestone
Task 1

Engage and train owners, route managers, stage supervisors, touts, conductors and drivers of the identified regions of expansion

Task 2

Provide engaged crews with access to information and treatment sites, dissemination of the patients rights and responsibilities.

Task 3

Engage aero companies with local and internationals routes in a bid to encourage them to take up infection control in their loun

Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone

Demystify TB and encourage treatment adherence

Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your 12-month milestone
Task 1

Start a toll free number with more information to support what the crews were dissemination

Task 2

Negotiate with matatu owners participating in the program to brand their matatus and crew thus giving them the recognition

Task 3

Monitor and evaluate project impact in 1.Behaviour change 2.Infection control 3.Treatment adherence 4.Case notification

Sustainability
Tell us about your partnerships

• Government of Kenya through Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation & DLTLD: Access to free TB treatment sites
• USAID TBCAP: one year funding for the idea (2010)
• Matatu Owners Association: Access to matatu owners
• Matatu Welfare Association: Access to matatu owners and crews
• Matatu Saccos: Access to matatu drivers, conductors and touts

Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your innovation? If so, where and why?

Yes
We are targeting Long distance busses/regional routes and Airplane companies
with emphasis on migratory routes such as Marsabit, Isiolo, Busia, Namanga, and ports of entry for Infection control

What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?

Public Private Mix: this gives us access to free treatment at government facilities

Engagement of all stakeholders; most matatu crews were defaulting from treatment due to stigma and work schedules. We engage the owners and management making them understand the disease, its impact on their business and why it is important for them and the crews to participant in the project and for the management to allow crews time off for treatment

Engagement with all stakeholders: Matatu owners, Saccos managers and route controllers, touts, conductors, drivers and passengers.

Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list