Case Study

Malawi – Find missing cases of TB in high-risk populations with OneStopTB Clinic

Mobile Clinic in Malawi

Systematic TB screening at a congested bus terminal using the OneStopTB Mobile Clinic identified a substantial number of TB cases and demonstrated the value of mobile outreach for improving TB case notification.

High-risk urban screening location

TB screening was conducted at a congested bus terminal with a high risk of TB transmission.

Focus on missing TB cases

At-risk children (5 years and above) were screened using the ultra-portable X-ray with CAD4TB.

Mobile TB screening deployment

The OneStopTB Mobile Clinic was deployed for mass TB screening.

Systematic screening approach

Individuals were screened for TB using a standardized outreach workflow.

Result

Between July and October 2020, 2,005 people were screened. Of these,

30 7 (15.3%) people
were identified as presumptive TB cases
2 2 (7.1%) people
were confirmed to have TB
1 0 (45.5%) of the 22 TB cases
were biologically confirmed
1 2 (54.5%) cases
were diagnosed through chest X-rays
Mobile Clinic in Malawi
Conclusion
  • Systematic screening using the OneStopTB Mobile Clinic can improve TB case notification.
  • Such screening exercises should be conducted routinely to further improve TB case notification and it is recommended that it be expanded into other towns

REFERENCE: The 52nd UNION conference “Mobile van TB screening at Blantyre Bus Station, Blantyre City, Malawi”,. K. E. Mkalira, Malawi National TB Control Programme.