WHO launches new guidelines on Tuberculosis care, support

The World Health Organisation has announced the launch of a new operational handbook and updated guidelines on tuberculosis care and support.

The WHO said the launch of the operational handbook and updated guidelines is to enhance the well-being of tuberculosis patients and improve treatment outcomes.

According to the global health organisation, the operational handbook provides information on the implementation guidance on health education, counselling, and palliative care, as well as, social support, treatment administration options, and digital adherence technologies.

The Director of WHO’s Global tuberculosis Programme, Dr. Tereza Kasaeva said, “It is vital that all people suffering from TB should receive adequate care and support through their pathway to cure, to enable them to complete their treatment and have positive outcomes.

“This new guidance from WHO puts the people with tuberculosis at the heart of the response and represents an important step forward to ensure all those in need attain the highest standard of tuberculosis care.”

The WHO stated that the new WHO Operational Handbook on Tuberculosis, Module 4: Treatment – Tuberculosis Care and Support is to help in the implementation of WHO recommendations by the Member States, technical partners, and others who partake in providing care to tuberculosis patients.

“It provides practical guidance on how to put in place the recommended treatment options at the scale needed to achieve national and global impact and emphasises the interventions recommended to improve tuberculosis treatment outcomes,” it said.

The UN health body further added that The WHO Consolidated Guidelines on Tuberculosis, Module 4: Treatment – Tuberculosis Care and Support includes all present-day WHO recommendations on care and support for individuals living with tuberculosis, with the intent to enlighten health care professionals in the Member States on how to achieve better treatment outcomes and improve the quality of life of individuals being treated for tuberculosis.

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 “This encompasses guidance on the implementation of interventions that enable treatment adherence including through social support, treatment administration options, and digital adherence technologies.

“Importantly, for the first time in WHO operational guidance, two important chapters are included on health education and counselling, and palliative care. Information is provided on different aspects of care and support for all tuberculosis patients, including children and adolescents, people living with HIV, and comorbidities and discusses the management of tuberculosis during health emergencies.

“The updated guidelines and supporting operational handbook are designed for use by national tuberculosis programmes, or their equivalents in Ministries of Health, policymakers and technical organizations working on tuberculosis and infectious diseases in public and private sectors and the community.

“These documents aim to facilitate uptake of WHO policy in the field and thus improve the overall quality of tuberculosis services,” the global health organisation said.