TB/HIV Collaboration in Murmansk Region 2009-2012
Based on a request by the regional administration of Murmansk and in face of increasing HIV epidemic in the region, Filha continues its cooperation in the Murmansk Region with a new TB/HIV Collaboration project in 2009-2012. The project implemented by between Filha, Murmansk Regional Tuberculosis Dispensary and Murmansk Regional AIDS Centre in broad cooperation with different stakeholders in Murmansk Region, like the Penitentiary care of Murmansk Region, Centre of Preventive Medicine, regional medical educational institutions, Regional Centre for Drug Rehabilitation and several NGO's in Murmansk Region.
The project's purpose is to achieve effective TB/HIV collaboration in Murmansk Region wiht strengthening activities especially in the following areas: improving TB/HIV coordination; increasing understanding of combined TB/HIV approach among health care workers through systematic training; improving understanding about the combined TB/HIV problem among patients and other citizens; and improving the service provision system on TB/HIV in general and especially those focusing on various vulnerable groups in order to prevent the spread of TB and HIV.
The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs is funding the project in the framework of the Finnish Cooperarion Programme with Neighbouring Areas.
More information: Senior Medical Officer Rauni Ruohonen, tel. +358 9 4542 1267
Murmansk-Finland Tuberculosis Project 1997-2008
Filha's cooperation with the Murmansk Region in the Russian Federation began from the initiative of the Regional Administration of Murmansk in the Barents Regional Committee in 1996, when they proposed tuberculosis as first priority in the field of health cooperation. An agreement on a tuberculosis project between the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Regional Administration of Murmansk Region and Filha was signed in 1997.
The Murmansk-Finland tuberculosis project in 1997-2008 focused in the first phase (1998-2001) on updating and improving the existing tuberculosis control program by applying the international recommendations.
In the second phase (2002-2004) the reforms implemented during the first phase were continued and strengthened and the project was expanded to cover the penitentiary tuberculosis services. The capacity of the program to address better the problems caused by MDR epidemic in the region was improved by strengthening the TB infection control measures and improving the tuberculosis laboratory services including performing drug resistance surveillance together with the Mycobacterial Reference Laboratory of the Finnish National Public Health Institute.
During the third phase (2005–2008) the Regional TB laboratory reached the level of international standards in the quality of work, and an effective tuberculosis infection control system to prevent transmission was established both in the laboratories and clinical settings of the Regional tuberculosis program. Attention was given also on improving the programmes ability to intervene with the poor adherence to treatment and late care seeking related to the growing number of socially marginalized population groups.
During the whole project period the main strategy was to achieve results by training of personnel and improving management capacity. As results of good cooperation in this field, Filha is organising together with the Murmansk tuberculosis program annually two international training courses: Training Course on Tuberculosis Infection Control and Training Course on Tuberculosis for Nurses.
The project was externally evaluated thrice, in 2001, 2004 and 2007.
