NGOs in Bangladesh have demonstrated that even in poor countries with relatively low literacy and educational levels, communities can be mobilized as effective partners for DOTS delivery. Partnership expansion maximizes results. Successful partnership with NGOs requires good technical services support to ensure quality and effectiveness.

Future needs and major priorities

- Budget projections: US$ 20-25 million (2000-2005).

- Technical Assistance:

- Management and supervisory capacity building;

- Social mobilization to stimulate demand;

- National reference laboratory;

- TB drug-resistance surveillance;

- Training curriculum review.

- Metropolitan area expansion.

- Behaviour change communication strategy.

- Microscopy quality control system at peripheral level.

- Operational research:optimizing TBcontrol within reforming health system.

National development indicators

Total population (millions)

Human Development Index (HDI) HDI:

HDI rank:

GNP per capita (US$)

Population living on less than US$ 1 a day

External debtper capita (US$)

Income distribution

Public expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP

Life expectancy at birth (years) Male:

Life expectancy at birth (years) Female:

Infant mortality rate

Estimated HIV/AIDScases (adults)

Adult literacy rate Male:

Adult literacy rate Female:

Population without access to health services

122.7

0.440

150 / 174

28.5%

4.1% / 23.7%

2.7%

58.1

58.2

0.03%

49.9%

27.4%

Tuberculosis-related programme and outcome indicators-Bangladesh

Estimated new cases of TB (thousands per year)

Estimated deaths from TB(thousands per year)

Estimated new cases of TBattributable to HIV (thousands per year)

Number of cases of TB notified in 1998

Male to female ratio of new infectious TB cases

Proportion of new infectious TB casesin economically active age groups (15-54)

Prevalence of MDR-TB in cases not previously treated

DOTS population coverage

72 256

71% / 29%