The National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme (NTLP) was launched by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in 1977 as a single combined Programme for the two diseases. In the fight of these two chronic epidemic diseases the Ministry has joined hands with various international and local developmental partners.
Among international development partners include; The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GF-ATM), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), World Health Organization (WHO) and German TB and Leprosy Relief Association (GLRA) who are main financers of various Programme activities through different grants countrywide.
Smooth implementation can’t be unconnected with other key stakeholders and active partners/collaborators in various program interventions include implementing partners, local research institutions, academia, private sector organizations as well as community based Civil Society Organizations (CSSOs).
NTLP is charged with preventing and controlling TB and leprosy in Tanzania to the point that they are no longer major public health concern. Structurally NTLP is within the Unit of Epidemiology and Head of Programs and Health System Strengthening (HOP&HSS) of the Ministry of Health (MOH). The Programme entails Tuberculosis and Leprosy Central Unit (TLCU) a team of seventy-seven (77) people situated in the MOH co-ordinates all activities pertaining to TB, TB-HIV, and leprosy control in the country.
Similarly, at sub-national level, there are thirty-two (32) Regional TB and Leprosy Coordinators (RTLC) and two hundred and eighteen (218) District TB and Leprosy Coordinators (DTLC). There are also one hundred and eight two (182) District TB/HIV Officers at district level, integrated into district teams while being supported by partners.
In Tanzania, TB control is fully integrated into the primary health care services. The health care delivery system in the country is well established with more than of 10,973 health facilities comprising of 428 hospitals, 1,053 Health centers, 7,330 dispensaries, 856 Clinics and 1,218 health labs. The Government is the major provider of health services owning and/or run 74% of the health facilities. TB and Leprosy control is fully integrated into the primary health care services. 45% (4,979) of the facilities provide TB treatment services and 1,752 (16%) provide TB diagnostic services that includes almost all hospitals and Health centers.
Coordinated efforts and prioritized investments to end TB in the country started to yield success in some areas of intervention however, health records still inform those communicable diseases are still the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the country driven by HIV epidemic with national prevalence of 4.7% general population.
TB has continued among other infectious diseases to be the top ten causes of death and among admission aged five years and above in the country whence suggesting a paramount urgency for intensifying efforts to realize the national and international set targets.
