TB surveillance and programme monitoring and evaluatiion: report of a regional workshop

A regional workshop on Tuberculosis Surveillance and Programme Monitoring and Evaluation was held during 20-24 July 2009 at the National Tuberculosis Institute, (NTI) Bangalore, India with the objectives to review current approaches to TB surveillance, monitoring and evaluation; to share the status and outcomes from surveillance, monitoring and evaluation activities in countries of the Region; to discuss plans for the implementation of the most appropriate TB surveillance, monitoring, evaluation and research methodology for each country, and to identify technical support as required by Member States to strengthen TB surveillance, monitoring and evaluation. The key recommendations that were made in the workshop were: regular monitoring, analysis and provision of feedback on cohorts reports received from by NTPs; monitoring missions to review progress with TB data management and surveillance at national and sub-national level; assistance in planning and undertaking TB prevalence and mortality surveys/studies in countries; and documentation and dissemination of information on trends in TB morbidity and mortality through regular regional meetings and reports.