101 RNTCP and AIDS NTI Bulletin 2005,41/3&4, 101 - 108 SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS OF RNTCP AND AIDS CONTROL PROGRAMME IN MANDYA DISTRICT PS Vaidyanathan 1 , P Kumar 2 SUMMARY A joint project of WHO, SEARO and National Tuberculosis Institute, Bangalore was undertaken in the year 2003-05 to augment TB-HIV collaborative activities in the district of Mandya. At the outset, the achievements and the components of the tuberculosis and AIDS control programmes were identified during the situational analysis of the control programmes of the two diseases. This was done as a pre-requisite to facilitate effective collaboration between the two programmes. The observations made during the situational analysis are presented in the article. The methodology adopted were through observations of various facets of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme and the AIDS control programme in the district, scrutiny of records and interactions with patients and health care providers. The observations were largely on expected lines. The TB-HIV collaborative activities were barely palpable in the district. Key words: India, tuberculosis, HIV, control, programme. Introduction To curtail the adverse impact of the Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic on the existing TB and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) control programmes, the South East Asia Regional Organization (SEARO) of the WHO has outlined a regional strategic framework on TB-HIV collaborative activities to commensurate with the requirement of the region. To gain experiences, the WHO has planned to support countries in piloting the TB-HIV collaborative activities in selected districts. Accordingly, a joint project of WHO, SEARO and National Tuberculosis Institute, Bangalore was undertaken in 2003-05 to augment TB-HIV collaborative activities in the district of Mandya (Karnataka). Mandya is a predominantly rural district (> 86%) and is located in the southern part of Karnataka. The district has a population of about 1.9 million 1 and most of the population is engaged in agriculture. The district is located about 99 kilometers from Bangalore. The district had implemented RNTCP in the year 2001 and has 4 Tuberculosis Units (TUs) and 22 Designated Microscopy Centers (DMCs). There was only one Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre (VCTC) in the district, which was located in the district hospital. As a pre-requisite to facilitate effective collaboration between the two control programmes, a situational analysis of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) and the National AIDS control programme in Mandya district was conducted in order to identify the achievements and components of the two programmes that required strengthening. The paper details the situational analysis of these two control programmes and the existing collaboration between them. Methodology A. Methodology of situational analysis of RNTCP : The situational analysis of the RNTCP in the district of Mandya was conducted in October and November 2003. 1. Co-investigator, 2.Principal Investigator,National Tuberculosis Institute, 8, Bellary Road, Bangalore – 560003. Fax : 080-23440952, Email : ntiindia@blr .vsnl.net.in