The Bangladesh Zero TB Cities Project will provide a comprehensive package of TB prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment services in high TB transmission areas and people at high risk of TB infection and disease in urban Bangladesh.

Its objective is to decrease TB deaths through increased

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TB treatment coverage.

Essential activities include (1) case detection through targeted active case finding and screening; (2) testing through use of new diagnostics; (3) treatment through expanded directly-observed treatment (DOT) and use of shorter treatment regimens and new drugs for drug-resistant TB; and (4) contact investigation and post-exposure therapy for people at high risk of TB infection.

The project will enable this provision of services through health systems strengthening measures, including (1) strengthening the policy environment for urban TB control; (2) increasing integration of urban TB services into other health platforms; and (3) facilitating linkages between urban TB service organizations and social support organizations.

Project outputs and outcomes will be tracked through effective data collection, analysis, monitoring, and reporting procedures and applications developed at points along a continuum of care.

The project will also support operations research on innovative TB prevention, screening, diagnostic, and treatment approaches.

The program description of the project is attached with this synopsis.

USAID/Bangladesh intends to publish a full funding opportunity based on the program description in near future.