CIDRZ continues to support the Ministry of Health’s national tuberculosis (TB) response by strengthening TB detection and treatment through community-based service delivery across Zambia.

Through the Facility and Community Service Delivery Support (FC-SDS) Project, which is funded by the United States Government through the Stop TB Partnership, CIDRZ is working with the Ministry of Health to enhance TB services in eight provinces: Lusaka, Copperbelt, Central, Southern, Northern, North-Western, Muchinga, and Luapula.

The six-month project, running through September 2026, is expanding access to TB services through community outreach and health system strengthening initiatives aimed at improving case detection, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes.

As part of the intervention, MoH mobile TB screening trucks are being supported by the project in Lusaka, Copperbelt, and Southern provinces, bringing integrated screening and diagnostic services closer to underserved communities. The mobile clinics provide on-site chest X-ray screening, immediate clinical review, and same-day sputum collection and testing. Individuals diagnosed with TB are initiated on treatment, reducing delays that can contribute to disease transmission and poor health outcomes.

The project has also engaged 1,120 community-based volunteers (CBVs), who are playing a critical role in the TB response. These trained community health workers conduct active case finding, support contact tracing, link individuals to screening services, and follow up with patients on treatment to improve adherence and treatment outcomes.

By strengthening the connection between communities and health facilities, the CBVs are helping ensure that people with TB symptoms are identified early and receive timely care and support.

FC-SDS Chief of Party Dr Mary Kagujje said the Project aligns with national priorities to expand equitable access to TB services, including within public and correctional facilities.

“The project is responding to key challenges identified by MoH, including low case detection, limited diagnostic capacity, and weak linkages between community screening and treatment initiation,” she said.

At the facility level, the project is supporting fast-track TB screening desks, inpatient screening services, and improved diagnostic capacity through laboratory strengthening, equipment optimisation, and enhanced data systems.

During a recent engagement in Lusaka, CIDRZ Regional Medical Officer Dr David Singini highlighted the importance of collaboration with health facility leadership in sustaining quality TB services. He further emphasised that continuous capacity building for healthcare workers remains central to improving patient outcomes.

By combining mobile outreach services, community engagement, and strengthened facility-based care, the FC-SDS Project is improving early TB detection, accelerating treatment initiation, and expanding access to life-saving TB services for communities across Zambia.