MHMS and partners with the new guideline and strategy.

BY JOY OFASIA

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services, through the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program, successfully held a four-day TB Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) workshop this week at the Aquarium Conference Room, National Stadium in Honiara.

The event offered a valuable platform for health workers to strengthen TB monitoring, improve data collection, and ensure better care for TB patients across the Solomon Islands.

The workshop focused on aligning TB recording, reporting, and surveillance systems with the new guidelines and strategy. It also updated participants on the Solomon Islands 2024 TB Treatment Guidelines and the TB National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2024–2026, which was officially launched on the third day.

Speaking at the opening, Director of the Tuberculosis/Leprosy Program, Dr Henry Kako, said, “This workshop gives us the chance to introduce the updated policy framework and review TB reporting tools, data flows, surveillance processes, and DHIS2 functionality.”

Director for Tuberculosis and Leprosy program Dr Henry Kako speaking during the workshop.

He added, “It also helps us agree on standard tools and processes aligned with the TB Guidelines and NSP, which will then be printed and shared for use in all provinces.”

The M&E workshop was implemented by the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program (NTLP), Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), in partnership with the World Health Organization, World Vision, Burnet Institute, and DFAT.

Participants included Provincial TB Coordinators, Provincial M&E Officers, Provincial Laboratory Representatives, Provincial Directors, and the National Referral Hospital TB Unit.