HFFG in partnership with funding support from STOP TB Partnership Geneva is implementing the Challenge Facility for Civil Society Round 11 project titled, Strengthening Community Systems to Scale-up Community-led Response Interventions for TB Control.  

The project is aimed at reducing TB stigma, gender-based violence and human rights abuse using innovative and evidence-based community-led interventions in the following high burden districts.

TBImpactGH App

The project uses the TBImpactGH (OneImpact) App, a digital tool (TBImpact GH APP) that serves as a platform for people with TB to access information on TB care and education, access to TB health services and treatment centres in proximity to the client, a channel to log complaints or difficulties in accessing TB services and treatment as well as issues of stigma, discrimination and Human Rights violations. There is also a community forum section for TB affected people to interact and provide peer support to one another.

Key Achievements for 2023

The TBImPactGH App is the primary data collection tool for the project. Data collection in the field is facilitated by trained TB Advocates in each of the districts, with support from project officers. At the end of every month, the data collected using the App are validated with the healthcare providers at the facility/district levels and on the TBImpactGH dashboard for analysis to inform advocacy actions.

The issues reported during the period are summarised as follows. 

TB Stigma 

Addressing stigma requires multifaceted approaches, including education, community dialogues, and personal testimonies and lived stories to change attitudes and behaviours. 

To address the high stigma among TB communities, HFFG took the initiative to establish TB support groups within all three implementing regions. These provide a very good platform for TB clients to share their experiences and support each other. HFFG is collaborating with the district health management teams to sustain the support groups even after the project. 

Our High Level Advocacy on Domestic Resource Mobilisation and Investment in TB 

I. African Union Summit for Members of Parliament on Domestic Resource Mobilisation: 

The Executive Director of HFFG along with two Members of the Parliamentary TB Caucus joined the 2023 AU summit for the establishment of an African MPs network for domestic resource mobilisation at the verge of the AU summit in Ethiopia with the Global Fund Advocates Network (GFAN), Africa.   

ii. Global TB Caucus, 4th Africa TB Summit in Kenya

A staff of HFFG joined a 4-member delegation, including a member of parliament from Ghana, to participate in the Global TB Caucus 4th Africa TB Summit in Kenya from 27th to 28th July 2023. This summit converged Members of Parliament, CSOs, and TB Community members from 24 African countries to exchange insights and successful approaches in addressing TB, strengthening the ability of MPs to advocate for funding and to mobilise internal resources for TB initiatives as well as adopt the Nairobi declaration on TB.  In a side event, CSOs present met to exchange knowledge by sharing lessons from the various projects they implement on TB. The MPs noted that their participation was crucial to understand the challenges and progress made in the fight against TB to keep them well-informed for their in-country advocacy efforts towards domestic resource mobilisation. 

iii. Revitalisation of the Parliamentary TB Caucus

Hope For Future Generations, TB Voice Network and Stop TB Partnership Ghana jointly organised a revitalisation event of the Parliamentary TB Caucus on Friday, July 14th, 2023.  This was aimed at strengthening the caucus in preparation towards the UNHLM on TB, and to ensure political commitment to meeting the targets set towards ending TB in Ghana. 

There were over 45 participants including the 2nd Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who served as chairman for the meeting, the chairperson and vice chairperson of the Parliamentary Health Select Committee, the Deputy Ranking Member of the Health Select Committee, the Program Manager of NTP, the Program Manager of the National AIDS Control Program, representative from the Country Coordinating Mechanism, the media and more. 

The event highlighted the UNHLM, the Deadly Divide, the 6 Key Ask, political commitment to TB, the TBImpactGH App and a compelling statement on Childhood TB by HFFG. 

We remain extremely grateful to all our partners as we could not have done this without them.