1 Main Medical Department of the Ministry of Justice, Azerbaijan
2 WHO CC on TB Control and prevention in prisons
3. WHO Regional Office for Europe
4 WHO Country Office, Azerbaijan
Background: The Main Medical Department of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Justice has provided health care to inmates for many years, and is an internationally recognized centre for Tuberculosis (TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) control. It served as a demonstration site for representatives of many countries in and beyond the European Region. The Department received the 2013 Correctional Health Care Award from the International Corrections and Prisons Association for its innovation and implementation of best practices in the diagnosis, treatment and care of TB and MDR-TB.
Intervention: Internationally recommended strategy for TB control in Azerbaijan Penitentiary System (PS) has been launched in 1995 and supported by WHO, ICRC, the Global Fundsand other international stakeholders. A training center (TC) was established in the premises of the penitentiary TB hospital. Along with theoretical modules, trainees have a unique opportunity to share with the practical experience on case detection and treatment at 8 treatment wards, 23 sub-wards, high-level laboratoryimplementing all range of phenotypic and genotypic TB tests.The core mentors are active TB managers with high academic backgrounds and WHO experts. The target audience includes physicians and nurses at primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare PS facilities; all levels laboratory technicians; and non-medical PS personnel. Basing on up-to-date WHO TB strategies and guidelines the TC offers a wide range of high quality, evidence based education on TB control in prisons.
Results: During last two years participants from all Central Asia countries, Iraq, the Philippines, China, Moldova, Belarus and Georgia took advantages of the TC resources and pass the training curriculum. The TB Training Center at the Main Medical Department of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan has been designated as WHO Collaborating Centre in 2014.
Conclusion: The STOP TB Strategy implementation varies in different environments and population groups. Prison setting requires specific approaches to personnel’s capacity building and education.