TDR supports two regional networks comprising 49 national tuberculosis (TB) control programmes in Africa to build operational and implementation research capacity for improving TB programmes. In February 2025, the Southern and East Africa Regional TB Network (SEARN-TB) convened and identified priority actions to promote collaboration and harmonization of evidence-informed approaches to strengthening TB control in the region.
With financial and technical support from TDR, the Armaeur Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), the secretariat of SEARN-TB, organized the network’s first annual meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This meeting brought together representatives of 22 national TB control programmes (NTPs) in the Southern and East Africa region to take stock of progress made since the establishment of the network in 2023.
| During the opening ceremony of the annual meeting, Dr Dereje Duguma, state minister at the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, noted: “SEARN-TB is more than a network; it is a commitment. A commitment that no country in our region will fight TB in isolation. A covenant that we will harmonize strategies, share innovations, and amplify Africa’s voice in the global TB response. With 22 nations now united, and through synergy with our sister network WARN/CARN-TB in the West and Central African region, we are dismantling borders to build a TB-free sub-Saharan Africa.” |
Over three days, participants shared and discussed the main challenges faced by their respective programmes, heard updates on the latest global guidelines from WHO colleagues at the Global TB Programme and shared progress on local implementation research initiatives. They were also introduced to the most recent TDR-developed implementation research tools for evaluating TB-focused social protection schemes and digital technologies and treatment decision algorithms for children with suspected TB. Critically, NTPs identified priority actions to be undertaken by the network that could promote collaboration among members and the adoption of harmonized and evidence-informed approaches to strengthening TB control in the region.
On the final day of the meeting, the network elected the NTPs of Djibouti and Zimbabwe as the new network co-chairs for 2025, replacing the NTPs of Malawi and Ethiopia. The new co-chairs will play an important role in setting agendas for upcoming network events and working to engage both anglophone and francophone colleagues in the network.
Participants of the first SEARN-TB annual meeting held in Addis Ababa, 17 – 20 February 2025.
Photo credit: SEARN-TB secretariat
A work plan is currently being developed by the SEARN-TB secretariat, which will set the schedule for activities to be conducted in 2025. TDR will continue to provide hands-on support to SEARN-TB, as well as to its sister network WARN/CARN-TB. Together, these networks provide important platforms for working directly with national TB programmes throughout Africa to use implementation research as a key tool for enhancing TB control and advancing progress towards global TB elimination targets.
For more information, please contact Dr Vanessa Veronese.