
RID-TB: Reducing the Impact of Drug-Resistant TB in Western Province, Papua New Guinea
Since August 2014, Burnet Institute has been a partner in a multi-stakeholder response to the major tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in Western Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Objective
Daru Island is at the centre of this epidemic where there is transmission of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB). The rates of drug-resistant TB in Daru are among the highest documented globally. This outbreak is a major public health threat with enormous health, social and economic costs to people living in Western Province.
There is limited funding and health systems capacity, nationally and provincially, to respond effectively to this issue. Major constraints in the health systems include a shortage of human resources with the relevant experience to respond to an epidemic of this magnitude and technical complexity.
Reducing the Impact of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (RID-TB), is a project funded by the Australian Aid program via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Through this project Burnet is responding as the technical lead in the design, monitoring and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the TB epidemic and care for people affected.
In doing so, Burnet is working in close partnership with the Western Provincial Health Office (PHO), Daru General Hospital (DGH), World Vision and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The challenges of responding to DR-TB in Western Province require that partners work together to establish effective systems for paDent-centred care, and to implement outbreak response measures to halt the epidemic.
The uptake of new tools, interventions and strategies is crucial to accelerate the response. Time is of the essence in the response – delays in achieving an effective response will allow drug resistant TB to continue to spread; resulting in preventable suffering and death.
Delays in getting on top of the outbreak will also increase the costs of bringing the epidemic under control in the future.
Approach
In recognition of these challenges, Burnet is providing support to the province for:
- development of plans and priority activities for a timely, effective response
- the design and rapid implementation of effective systems for TB diagnosis, care and treatment focussing on case management at DGH
- the uptake of new tools, interventions and strategies that will accelerate the response to TB
- monitoring, evaluation and analysis of the response
- clinical support and capacity development for TB program staff.
Timeline
Phase 1
August 2014–June 2015.
Phase 2A
December 2015–December 2018.
Phase 2B
January 2019–December 2021.
Partners
Funding partners
Supported by the Australian Government via the PNG Australia Transition to Health (PATH) Program.

Project contacts

Dr Khai Lin Huang
Co-Head Tuberculosis Elimination and Implementation Science, Senior Research Fellow
Project team

Associate Professor Suman Majumdar
Chief Health Officer - COVID & Health Emergencies; Deputy Program Director, Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness; Principal Research Fellow

Dr Aung Aung
TB Specialist – Public Health

Geoffrey Chan
Health Systems and Strategic Information Specialist

Dr Philipp du Cros
Co-Head Tuberculosis Elimination & Implementation Science; Principal Research Fellow

Professor Steve Graham
Honorary Staff

Gabbi Hamilton
Project Officer

Dr Khai Lin Huang
Co-Head Tuberculosis Elimination and Implementation Science, Senior Research Fellow

Billy Inkharm
IT/Data Entry Officer

Dr Stobdan Kalon
RID TB Project, Disease Elimination; Head, Tuberculosis Elimination & Implementation Science

Tess Keam
Social Worker

Dr Elmaretta Kemba
Tuberculosis Medical Officer

James Lawson
Program Manager / Country Program Manager

Dr Dani Lin
Infectious Diseases Specialist

Dr Tafireyi Marukutira
TB Specialist – Public Health

Christopher Masah
Registered Nursing Officer (RID TB Nurse)- Public Health Team

Alexa Murray
Senior Research Officer & Project Manager

Naomi Pank
Public Health Nursing Specialist, Co-Lead SWEEP-TB Project
