As we reach the conclusion of our three-year project, “Reaching Vulnerable and Key Affected Populations to Improve Access to TB Care in Pastoralist Areas of Ethiopia” funded by L’Initiative & Expertise France. This three-year project (July 2023 – June 2026) is being carried out by REACH Ethiopia and Organic Health Care Services in Zone 3 of the Afar Region.
Since 2023, REACH Ethiopia have worked in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Afar regional Health Bureau to reduce TB-related morbidity and mortality, contributing significantly to Ethiopia’s national goal of ending TB by 2035.
Key Project Achievements:
- Strengthened Diagnostics: We enhanced health facility infrastructure and provided critical laboratory equipment including GeneXpert machines with inverters, microscopy, TB-LAMP technology& other equipments to ensure faster, more accurate diagnosis.
- Massive Outreach & Capacity Building: We reached over 290,000 individuals with TB awareness campaigns and built the capacity of approximately 2,000 community members and health professionals.
- Impactful Case Detection: Through screening over 92,000 people, we identified 4,995 presumptive cases and confirmed 1,540 TB cases, driving the community’s contribution to regional TB case detection from 5% to 40%.
Looking Ahead: On July 17, 2026, in Adama, our team gathered to review these remarkable milestones and plan for the next six months. As we move forward, we remain deeply committed to strengthening partnerships and empowering community volunteers to ensure equitable access to TB screening and care for the most vulnerable.