Regional Meeting of Tuberculosis Programs and Laboratories Managers of the Americas. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (October 10-12, 2023)

(Brazil Time)

08:30 – 09:00     Inauguration.
National authorities, PAHO/WHO, Civil Society

09:00 – 09:30     Objectives and introduction of participants
Pedro Avedillo, PAHO

Section 1. Political commitment towards TB elimination in the Americas 
Moderators: Miguel Ángel Aragón y Ruben Mayorga

09:30 – 10:00     High-Level Meeting and Political Declaration 2023 Commitments
Ines Garcia, WHO

10:00 – 10:30     Progress and priorities in the Americas towards the End of TB
Pedro Avedillo, PAHO

10:30 – 11:00     Coffee break

11:00 – 13:15      Political commitment as a catalyst to achieve the goals of the 2023 Political Declaration. Country and partner perspectives.

Panel 1. Country presentations. National TB Programs (10’ ea.)

• Brazil. Fernanda Dockhorn
• Argentina. Marcela Natiello
• Ecuador. Vladimir Diaz

Panel 2. Discussion with partners:
Alejandra Acuña, Lourdes Kusunoki, Luis Gallo, Alberto Colorado, Giulia Perrone

• Subregional integration mechanisms
  • COMISCA
  • ORAS
• TB Parliamentary Front of the Americas
• Representatives of civil society
• Clobal Fund

Discussion

13:15 – 14:15     Lunch

Section 2. Using strategic information for decision-making towards the end of TB. 
Moderator: Kleydson Alves and Elizabeth Rodriguez

14:15 – 14:30     Introduction: strategic elements to strengthen TB information systems in the region.
Francisco Leon, PAHO

14:30 – 14:55     Situation of TB information systems in the region: EPI-Review results and analysis of laboratory information systems
Juan Carlos Bossio 
Juan Jose Victoria

14:55 – 15:35     Tools for data visualization and analysis
Peter Nguhiu, WHO  
Francisco Leon, PAHO

15:35 – 16:00     Tool for costing National TB Strategic Plans and estimating the impact of interventions
Ines Garcia, WHO

16:00– 16:20    Coffee Break 

16:20– 17:30     Country work

• Surveillance systems and use of information for prioritization of interventions in country planning
• Multisectoral accountability framework

Brazil Time

Section 3: Innovation to accelerate targeted TB screening and TB preventive treatment 
Moderators: Celia Martinez and Marcelo Vila

08:30 – 08:40     Introduction: Accelerate the expansion of case finding and TPT in vulnerable populations and most affected geographic areas using new technologies and innovation.
Belkys Marcelino, PAHO

08:40 – 09:10    WHO recommendations for targeted TB screening and TB preventive treatment
Dennis Falzon, WHO

09:10 – 09:40    Digital radiography and computer-aided detection (CAD) to expand targeted active case finding.
Zhi Zhen Qin/Jacob Creswell, Stop TB Partnership

9:40 – 10:15    Questions and discussion

10:15– 10:35    Coffee Break

10:35– 11:30     Experiences in the implementation of digital radiography and computer-aided detection (CAD) and TB Preventive Treatment 
Leonid Lecca-Sarita Aguirre 
Fernanda Dockhorn 
Gabriela Amaya

• Targeted TB screening: Peru and Paraguay
• TPT: Brazil and Uruguay

11:30– 13:00     Group work. Challenges and opportunities for the expansion of targeted active case finding and TPT.
13:00 – 14:00     Lunch

Section 4: Expansion of rapid molecular tests and integration of laboratory networks 
Moderators: Ernesto Montoro and Armando Martinez

14:00 – 14:10     Situation of rapid diagnosis in the Americas
Ernesto Montoro

14:10 – 14:30     Universal access to rapid TB diagnosis. WHO guides and standards.
Claudia Llerena

14:30 – 15:00     Main obstacles in compliance with the diagnostic algorithms recommended by WHO
Fabiola Arias

15:00 – 16:00    Planning for universal access to rapid molecular testing. Country experience:
Ernesto Montoro

• Chile
• Paraguay
• Uruguay    

16:00– 17:30     Group work. Gaps and solutions; roadmap and commitments towards the universalization of rapid molecular testing

(Brazil Time)

Section 5. Treatment: Innovation, accelerated implementation of shortened regimens, and person-centered care 
Moderators: Oscar Cruz and Karen Rivas

08:30 - 08:50     Introduction: Status of adoption and expansion of the latest WHO recommendations on treatment to accelerate national responses towards elimination in the Americas.
Francisco Leon, PAHO

08:50 – 09:40     Shortened treatment regimens

• Drug-sensitive TB. Marisa Vescovo
• TB in children. Laura Lagrutta
• Drug-resistant TB - BPaL and BPaLM. Rafael Laniado

09:40 – 10:10    Country experience in the implementation of shortened schemes

• Dominican Republic. Clara de la Cruz
• Ecuador. Vladimir Diaz
• Panama. Edwin Aizpurua

10:10 – 10:30    Coffee Break

10:30 – 10:50      PAHO Strategic Fund
Nora Giron, PAHO

10:50 – 11:20    Questions and discussion

11:20 – 12:00    Person-centered care to improve treatment adherence: improving adherence, and life quality during and after treatment
Ernesto Jaramillo, WHO

• Digital Adhesion Technologies
• Community Support
• Addressing comorbidities (NCDs, mental health)
• Social Support
• Post-TB disability   

12:00– 13:00    Experiences in treatment with support focused on the needs of people with TB

• Haiti (VST in prisons). Edwin Prophete
• Uruguay (VST). Gabriela Amaya
• Peru (VST, mental health). Antonieta Alarcon
• Dominican Republic (DOT, Mental Health and social protection). Clara de la Cruz
• Nicaragua (community support). Arelisabel Ruiz

Questions and discussion

13:00 – 14:00    Lunch

14:00 – 15:00    Experiences in treatment with support focused on the needs of people with TB (continuation)

• Colombia (community support in MDR-TB). Karen Rivas
• Argentina (Casa Masantonio). Santiago Jimenez
• Brazil (social protection, homeless people). Fernanda Dockhorn

15:00 – 16:30    Group work. Commitment to the implementation of shortened regimens and people-centered care

16:30-17:00     Agreements
Closing of the meeting, PAHO