We provide patient-centered comprehensive care, diagnosis and treatment services for TB, TB/HIV co-infection, and multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) for displaced, migrant, cross-border populations in Tak province located in Thailand, and Myanmar populations in the Myawaddy district on the eastern Myanmar border. Since late 2020 and the COVID-19 era, we have promoted case finding in the community through mobile outreach screening with portable chest X-rays. We collaborate with local stakeholders for Thai-Myanmar border TB control.
SMRU's Tuberculosis (TB) program began in late 2009. It provides TB screening service, diagnosis, and treatment services with patient-centered comprehensive care for TB, TB/HIV co-infection, and multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). Migrants, displaced, cross-border populations, ethnic minorities, and Myanmar populations can access to SMRU TB centers located on the Thailand-Myanmar border, one center in the Myawaddy district on the eastern Myanmar border and the other in Tak province, Thailand. Since 2013, SMRU has worked in close collaboration with the Mae Tao Clinic and can support significantly migrants and cross-border populations to get diagnosis and treatment services. SMRU has started GeneXpert PCR testing to improve MDR-TB case detection and extended activities on Active Case Detection for specific risk groups (contacts of TB patients, HIV patients, and health workers). SMRU TB clinics have a capacity of 220 rooms, including isolation rooms for MDR-TB patients. On average, 80% of TB patients are treated in residential care - receiving food, medical care, and psycho-social support while 20% of TB patients are followed in their homes under supervised DOT by our team of healthcare workers.SMRU is collaborating with Ethnic Health Organizations serving ethnic minorities in Karen State, local stakeholders in the border area, and the National TB program of both Thailand and Myanmar.
Till the end of 2023, total presumptive TB screenings to 15,354 TB suspects and we have diagnosed 3,740 TB cases (24%). There are 3132 TB cases (84.0 %) receiving anti-TB treatment in the SMRU TB Program with a 16.4% HIV co-infection rate (513 TB/HIV patients) and 5% MDR-TB case detection (203 MDR-TB cases).
Not only providing standard treatment but also enhancing holistic care for physical, mental, and social well-being, patients ensure to complete a long duration of treatment with good adherence. Treatment Success Rate achieved 87.2% in 2019, 90.4% in 2020, 90% in 2021, and 91.4% in 2022 registered TB patients.
Since late 2020 and the COVID-19 era, we have promoted case finding in the community through mobile outreach screening with portable chest X-ray machines. We have strengthened collaboration with local stakeholders and adapted case-finding strategies for Thai-Myanmar border TB control. SMRU integrates community engagement for the mobilization of communities to participate in TB screenings.
TB outreach teams have screened 14,360 migrants and villagers in community outreach screenings in the Phophra, Mae Ramat, and Mae Sot district of Thailand and in the villages along the border of Myawaddy district in Myanmar. These activities could find 123 TB cases in the community from 2021 to 2023.
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