NATA has been supporting NTP (National Tuberculosis Program) in all possible ways by conducting various activities to reach beneficiaries at the grass root level as well as the vulnerable groups. The activities of NATA can be broadly divided into four areas: preventive activities, curative services, diagnostic services and surveillance and research.
1 Preventive Programs
NATA has been implementing various activities related to Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization. Under this programme, NATA mobilizes cured TB patients, teachers, students, mothers group, frontline health workers, volunteers, community leaders and adolescents to conduct various ACSM activities for awareness raising on prevention and cure of TB.
2 Curative Programs
2.1 Kalimati Chest Hospital
NATA runs Kalimati Chest Hospital established in 1970. It is 25 bedded and provides quality service for serious and complicated cases requiring hospitalization, concentrated cure and indoor services. Efforts are underway to run it as a full-fledged respiratory hospital.
2.2 DOTS and Drug Resistance (DR) TB Management Services
NATA runs DOTS clinics and provides DR TB management services. Under DR TB management, it provides Drug Susceptibility Testing (TST) and other biochemical tests and refers the clients to DR hostels for concentrated treatment, support and care if necessary.
2.3 DR Hostel
NATA runs two hostels (Kathmandu and Morang) with full package of lodging and food for MDR TB patients. These hostels treat MDR patients living away from home with concentrated support, care and balance diet. NATA provides various income generating skill development trainings to MDR patients in order to support them for their living.
2.4 Global Fund Programme
NATA as a sub Recipient (SR) under GFATM Programme provides Drug Resistant (DR) TB management services, DR Hostels facilities, LSP support, HIV counseling and testing services, DST and other Laboratory services, DR referral clinic services and carries out ACSM(Advocacy communication & Social Mobilization) activities.
3 Diagnostic Services
3.1 General Laboratory, X-ray and USG services
NATA runs general laboratories and X-ray services. The general laboratories provide tests from blood, urine and stool. It has DR X-ray facilities to diagnose or confirm the TB cases. To increase the reach of TB patient towards other disease diagnosis, NATA has started the service of Ultra SonoGraphy (USG).
3.2 German Nepal Tuberculosis Project (GENETUP)
NATA has been implementing GENETUP project with the support of Kuratorium Tuberculose in der welt e.V. Germany since 1987 in Kathmandu valley with the facility of Out Patient Department (OPD), National Reference Laboratory with standard microbiological Services, and DOTS clinic for TB Patients and DR clinic for DR TB Patients. This is the first project in South East Asia region which has introduced Supervised Treatment or Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) regimen for the TB patients. GENETUP laboratory, working under quality control of Gauting Supra National Reference Laboratory, Germany, runs a Laboratory of International Standard with the facility of AFB smear, solid culture, drug sensitivity test (DST) and genotype line probe assay, which is functioning as National Reference Lab as it is receiving samples for culture and DST from other 12 DR TB centers and the samples from other private and public health facilities.
4 Research and Surveillance
Apart from the above activities, NATA has also conducted various surveillance and research to support National Tuberculosis Program to make plan and programs based on evidences. Since it has large number of clients in OPD and the hospitals, it has become a good platform to conduct clinical trials, surveillances and socioeconomic surveillance of TB patients. It has supported to conduct different surveillance in collaboration with various international, national partners and line agencies including Kuratorium Tuberculose in de welt e.V. Germany, WHO, IUATLD, RIT Japan, Nuffield Institute UK, etc.
