Mexico

Mexico is the third country in the Latin America and Caribbean region (after Brazil and Peru) with the highest number of TB cases notified. Incidence rate is 17/ 100,000.
The Ministry of Health declared in 2001 a slight increase in the disease due to the association with HIV/AIDS and Multi Drugs Resistance.

DOTS coverage is implemented in all areas of the Mexican Republic. DOTS treatment success is 83% and case detection 73%.

Mexico is the first Latin American country to install the STOP TB Mexico committee “ Stop Tuberculosis ” . Mexico is a pioneer of integrating nurses in the fight against Tuberculosis with a DOTS-network in which 5200 nurses are allied, as well as innovative social mobilisation and IEC projects.

TBCTA Project 1 (2000-2006)

Objectives

• To carry out a review mission to review both the National Tuberculosis Program of Mexico and the USAID program. In particular focusing upon monitoring & evaluation, social mobilization, border issues, human resource development and laboratory services;

• To create skills and knowledge on Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization by carrying out a strategic planning workshop with the NTP representatives from all states

• To allow 5 Mexican participants from different states to participate in The Union ’ s MDR-TB training course.

• To assess the Needs of the PPM (Public-Public and Public-Private Mix) component of the National Tuberculosis Control Program in Mexico through discussion groups and interviews with the NTP and major stakeholders. To document lessons learned and experiences on PPM in TB control in Mexico.

Major TBCTA Accomplishments

• The review mission resulted in several recommendations for the USAID funded projects:
  1. Due to varying needs and conditions at the State level, decentralized strategic planning at should be further elaborated.
  2. Human resource development activities need to be an integral part of the State strategic planning, including laboratory human resource development planning.
  3. Continuation is needed for implementation of Operational Research (OR) addressing relevant subjects emerging from the field, which can contribute to the improvement of the quality and outcomes of the program. OR can also contribute to the improvement and measurement of the quality of ASCM strategies and activities (i.e. baselines & surveys).
  4. ACSM activity planning should be included in the strategic planning of the states ’ TB program. Outcome and impact indicators and OR (surveys) can be used to measure results.
• A direct result of the recommendations was an ACSM workshop. The participants found the workshops particularly useful and easy to apply to their everyday practice. Moreover, some participants from the NTP at State levels requested that the workshops be replicated in their States to access all staff.
  1. Although Mexico is implementing PPM activities with strong political commitment, a review mission identified several areas for improvement. In particular, there is a need to develop a strategic plan in collaboration with all those providing TB care--academic and professional societies, traditional healers and specialists — based on a situation analysis.
  2. Five Mexicans successfully completed The Union ’ s MDR-TB training course.

TB CAP PROJECT PERIOD (2005-2010)

TB CAP is developing a work plan for additional activities in Mexico. The main components will address MDR-TB, Monitoring & Evaluation and PPM activities