The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) works to broaden access to life-saving therapy for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria patients in the poorest parts of the world. CHAI approaches health access challenges with simultaneous and intensive engagement on both the demand and supply sides of the market. Based on the premise that business oriented strategy can facilitate solutions to global health challenges, CHAI acts as a catalyst to mobilize new resources and optimize the impact of these resources to save lives, via improved organization of commodity markets and more effective national and sub-national level management.
In the working population, TB incidence worldwide is highest among miners. Approximately 7% of miners will contract TB each year and 1/3 of TB infections can be attributed to mining activities. The mining community is transient allowing for routes of disease spread between urban and rural areas, across national borders, and extends to the general population. Due to the mobility of miners, DOTS coverage and access and continuity of care are inadequate. The mining industry in Southern Africa is heavily dependent on migrant workers from Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. TB in the mines is a cross border issue that requires coordinated action from multiple governments, public and private sectors, civil society, and miners themselves.
The TB Access team works closely with the National TB Control Programme (NTCP) and partner organizations to address the main drivers of TB transmission, available diagnostic and treatment services across Swaziland, with a specific focus on mining communities. The team is supporting the NTCP to address gaps in access to treatment and to encourage the adoption of innovative interventions that will have a transformative impact on health outcomes.
This is a nine month volunteer position.