TB Case Management CD-ROM Developed in Spanish for Bolivia
by Cynthia F. Young, Senior Staff Writer

A newly completed Spanish version of the QA Projects Tuberculosis Case Management CD-ROM was officially launched at III Reunión de STOP TB en las Américas, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on April 22nd.

The conference was organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and was attended by delegates from Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Ecuador.

Dr. Marina Budeyeva, Senior QA Project Advisor, led the development of the computer-based training (CBT) program for the QA Project, which was produced in coordination with the Bolivia Ministry of Healths National Tuberculosis Control Program.

At the conference, Ministry of Health and USAID experts discussed measures that are being taken worldwide to treat TB, including describing the world TB situation and the World Health Organizations Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) strategy. They discussed the TB situation and DOTS strategy in the region, epidemiological and operational analysis, and the state of control plans and future agreements. They also explained the drugs, resistance, and global control of TB; the diseases of TB, AIDS, and Malaria; and the structure and operation of the Inter-Agency Commission to Stop TB for the America Region.

The launch, part of the Bolivian Ministry of Healths Información, Educación, and Comunication strategy section, included presentations by Dr. Mirtha Del Granado, Chief of the national TB program, Luisa Mendizábal, national program TB specialist, and Dr. Charles Oliver, USAID Bolivia Mission Health Officer. The country coordinator for the TB program was Dr. Bernarda Salas.

Representatives from each participating country received a TB Case Management CD-ROM and expressed great enthusiasm and interest in the tutorial. They also discussed the possibility of producing and adapting the CD-ROM for the unique needs of differing countries, such as Brazil.

This is the first time that this has been developed on a national, country-wide scale, Dr. Budeyeva said. We believe it is important that healthcare professionals perform well through improving their knowledge skills.

During the CBT programs field-testing in Bolivia, physicians, nurses, and medical and nursing students found the CD to be easy to navigate, motivating to use, and that it improved their knowledge and skills.

The course is part of the Ministrys overall training curriculum to optimize in-service training for health professionals. The interactive TB Case Management program trains health workers, nurses, and physicians in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tuberculosis. The program is based on the World Health Organizations Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course. The development of this CD-ROM and its adaptation to the Bolivian healthcare context was funded by USAID Mission in Bolivia