(Copy of email to Dr. J. Kumaresan, WHO/TB Progr)
Dear Jacob,
Yes, we are aware of Professor Kafle's research, and he presented it at
a workshop on TB related health research that we organised at the NTC
last July.
Professor Kafle's research, which was carried out in the Kathmandu
valley, showed that the majority of patients leaving the District Health
Office TB clinic had very poor understanding concerning their
medication. He also recommended that medicines should be packaged
properly, instead of as loose unlabelled tablets as is often the case.
Because of this, and as a direct result of his findings, we have been
field testing an envelope which will be used for dispensing anti-TB
medicines, which includesd a brief message about the importance of
compoleting a full course of treatment, and gives instructions for
taking the medicines enclosed. One envelope will be used for each type
of medication. Obviously, as DOTS expands across the country this
problem will largely be overcome, but we thought it necessary to
introduce an interim measure immediately in the districts where
supervised treatment is not yet available. The printing costs of these
envelopes is being met from the WHO country budget for 1997.
I have a copy of Professor Kafle's paper, which I will send it to you.
Regards,
Ian
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