The IMPACT 2 TB and Target TB projects kick off meet
The IMPACT 2 TB and Target TB project kick off meeting was held in Kathmandu on 22nd February 2021. In the meeting, the Nepalese government and non-government stakeholders along with the development partners, researchers and the project team came together for a dynamic discussion and welcoming of the new projects. The IMPACT TB phase 2 i.e. IMPACT 2 TB project (www.impacttbproject.org , www.twitter.com/impact_tb) is funded by the Nick Simons Foundation and partnered with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and Karolinska Institutet (KI). Similarly, the Target TB project is funded by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), collaborated by University of Melbourne.
The key objectives of the meeting were the following:
- To consult with the key government stakeholders regarding the IMPACT TB phase two and the Target TB projects and obtain their feedback for the implementation
- To share, plan and finalize Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) with concerned stakeholders of IMPACT TB phase two and Target TB Project
- To develop common understanding on Detail Implementation Plan (DIP) of IMPACT TB and Target TB
The meeting was conducted with the enthusiastic presence of the distinguished guests i.e. Dr Anuj Bhattachan, Director, National Tuberculosis Control Center (NTCC); Dr Dipendra Raman Singh, Director General, Department of Health Services (DoHS); Mr Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP); Prof Dr Jageshwor Gautam, Division Chief, Health Coordination Division, MoHP; Dr. Bikash Devkota, Division Chief, Curative Division, MoHP; Prof Dr Prakash Ghimire, Chair, Ethical Review Board, Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC); Dr Bibek Kumar Lal, Director, SAARC TB; Mr Mukti Khanal PMER Chief, NTCC; Mr. Mahesh Sharma, BNMT Chairperson, Dr Buddha Basnyat, BNMT Vice-chairperson, Mr. Suman Chandra Gurung, BNMT Executive Director, Dr Maxine Caws, Principal Investigator (PI) for IMPACT TB; Dr Sarah Dunstan, Principal Investigator (PI) for Target TB along with several government officials from provinces and health offices, and representatives from other development partner I/NGOs.
The program extended presentations on the introduction of each projects including two new projects – TB Recovery and TB READY (the projects that study about the social determinants of TB, inbuilt within the IMPACT TB phase 2); sharing of learnings obtained from IMPACT TB phase 1 and the standard operating procedures of IMPACT TB phase 2; TB transmission in relation to drug resistant TB; and research tools, followed by open discussions and remarks by the government stakeholders.
There was an encouraging reception and trust towards the BNMT programs by key government stakeholders. It was a remarkable moment of all the TB stakeholders coming together to collaborate for TB program. The government officials highly appreciated innovative approaches of BNMT as a pioneer in TB programs to support the NTP goals of TB elimination. They also appreciated the working modality and transparency of BNMT Nepal and extended best wishes for the successful completion of the projects, committing to extend support as and when required.
BNMT Vice-Chair Dr Buddha Basnyat summarizing the Kick off meeting stressing the importance of working together and creating good examples for ending TB 
NTCC Director Dr Anuj Bhattachan and DoHS Director General Prof Dr Dipendra Raman Singh taking notes of the presentations 
BNMT Research Manager Ms Kritika Dixit introducing study on impact of COVID19 pandemic on TB service delivery in Nepal i.e. project TB READY 
NTCC Senior Public Health Officer Ms Basundhara Sharma extending her query regarding project TB READY in Q & A session 
BNMT Executive Director Mr Suman Chandra Gurung highlighting the importance of robust and innovative interventions for active case finding in Nepal 
MoHP Cutative Division Chief Dr Bikash Devkota extending his best wishes for the new projects, regarding them as an important step taken towards TB elimination 
NTCC Nursing Officer Dr Thuma Pun enquiring about the TB Recovery project and extending her suggestions for the same in Q&A session 
BNMT HR and Admin Officer Ms Soma Rai, moderating the Kick off meet 
The Target TB PI Dr Sarah Dunstan (left) explaining the importance of genomic studies during one of the presentations, along side the IMPACT TB PI Dr Maxine Caws 
NTCC Director Dr Anuj Bhattachan extending his closing remarks, emphasizing that the projects evidences would direct a road map for future pathway towards TB elimination 
NATA GENETUP Director Dr Bhawana Shrestha presenting on the TB transmission in relation to multi-drug resistant TB in Nepal 
DoHS Director General Dr Dipendra Raman Singh extending his trust towards BNMT as long serving organization working on end-TB goals with continuous partnership with the government 
Participants posing happily! 
Deputy Director Mr Raghu Dhital addressing comments and queries during open discussion
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