ACT Africa, ACT Asia Pacific (ACT AP), the Global Fund, and the Stop TB Partnership are developing and piloting a scalable community engagement model to enhance pandemic and emergency responses for marginalized and underserved groups, also known as Last Mile Populations (LMPs). These populations include slum dwellers, prisoners, people with disabilities, internally displaced individuals, undocumented migrants, refugees, and those with mental health conditions—many of whom are classified as TB Key and Vulnerable Populations (KVPs).

Key Focus:
The project draws lessons from COVID-19’s impact on TB response, emphasizing the need to include priorities and expertise from TB KVPs in pandemic preparedness and response efforts. KVPs are defined by increased exposure to TB, limited access to healthcare services, or heightened risk due to factors such as HIV.

Objectives:

Strengthen engagement with TB KVPs and LMPs in emergency health responses, building on insights from COVID-19.
Utilize a community engagement assessment tool to gather data and inform recommendations for improving pandemic preparedness for TB and other health crises.

Implementation:
The pilot project, supported by the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM), will be conducted in eight countries: the Philippines, Cambodia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone. The tool is adaptable for engaging broader LMPs in diverse health contexts.

Significance:
By involving the most impacted and underserved populations, the project aims to create inclusive strategies that address health inequities, ensure better preparedness for future pandemics, and strengthen TB and public health responses globally.