What is A in ACSM

In ACSM, "A" stands for Advocacy. "Advocacy" is an activity by an individual or a group that aims to influence the decisions within political, economic and social institutions. 

Advocacy focuses on influencing policy-makers, funders and international decision-making bodies through a variety of channels:

Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilisation

Advocacy refers to activities that seek to influence the influencers and decision-makers, so as to make TB more central as a public health agenda and enlist their (influencers’) support to create an enabling environment in support of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) to eliminate TB. Advocacy fosters political will, increases financial and other resources on a sustainable basis, and holds authorities accountable to ensure that pledges are fulfilled and results achieved.

 

 

Patient-provider meetings

Patient-provider meetings are important to ensure patient support and improve case holding/ treatment adherence.

Objective: To orient the patients on the course of the treatment, the importance of adherence and the risk for close contact. It also provides a platform to discuss the difficulty in following treatment courses by the patients and the need for further counselling if required.

District TB Forum

The district TB forum is a community-engagement modality that aims to empower and engage the TB-affected community. Constituted by TB patients (cured or on treatment), community leaders, government officials, experts and NGOs; it gives a voice to the affected community and advocates with the programme managers for the resolution of challenges faced by TB patients in accessing TB services.

District TB forum is composed of various stakeholders as shown in the table below and its meeting is to be convened at least every 6 months at the district level.

State TB Forum

The TB forum for community engagement aims to empower and engage the TB-affected community. The forum acts as a bridge between the community, TB patients, the health system and civil society. In these forums, advocacy activities are undertaken to influence policy changes for accessible, affordable, supportive TB services to the entire population with a special focus on poor and vulnerable groups.

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