Overview of TB-HIV Collaborative Activities under NTEP

 TB-HIV collaborative activities are the first among the TB comorbidities-specific interventions started in India and globally. In India, structured and systematic TB and HIV collaborative efforts were started in 2001. 

The scope of work for collaboration between the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) and the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) includes:

1. Establish/ strengthen NACP-NTEP coordination mechanisms at the national, state and district levels

2. Scaling up of intensified TB/HIV package of services across the country

3. Joint monitoring and evaluation including standardised reporting shared between the two programmes

 4. Training of the programme and field staff on TB/HIV

 5. TB and HIV service delivery coordination by:

• Offering HIV testing to TB patients
• Intensified TB case finding at Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs), Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and Community Care Centres
• Linking of HIV-infected TB patients to NACP for HIV care and support (including ART) and to NTEP for TB treatment
• Provision of Cotrimoxazole Prophylactic Treatment (CPT) for HIV-infected TB patients

6. Implementation of feasible and effective infection control measures

7. Involvement of Non-government Organisations (NGOs)/ Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and affected communities working with NACP and NTEP for all activities on TB/HIV collaboration

8. Operational research to improve the implementation and impact of TB/HIV collaborative activities

Intensified efforts are required for addressing the TB Burden among PLHIV. The three “I” s to reduce the burden of TB among PLHIV include:

• ICF: Intensified (TB) Case Finding at ICTC, ART centres and Link ART Centres (LAC)
• IC-AIC: Air-borne Infection Control measures for prevention of TB transmission in HIV care settings
• IPT: Implementation of Isoniazid Preventive Treatment for all PLHIV (on ART + Pre-ART

Resources

• National Framework for Joint HIV/TB Collaborative Activities, NACO, CTD, MoHFW, GoI, 2009.
• Training Modules (1-4) for Programme Managers & Medical Officers, NTEP, CTD, MoHFW, GoI, 2020.

Assessment