Installing Tuberculosis Workplace Policies among Micro-, Small-, and Medium-sized Enterprises and Organized Community Groups: A Pilot Project

Abstract

As one of the 30 high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries, the Philippines continues to suffer from TB. With a significant proportion of the working population belonging to micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the majority of which operate informally and are relatively unreached by TB-related services, addressing TB in these workplaces becomes more urgent. To address this issue, it is crucial to educate employees about the disease transmission and signs and symptoms, ensure the availability of resources to screen, diagnose, treat, and prevent TB, and empower establishments to implement TB-related policies and create referral systems with relevant facilities. Through the support of the Philippine Business for Social Progress – Advancing Client-centered Care and Expanding Sustainable Services for TB (PBSP-ACCESS TB) Project funded by the Global Fund and considering the dearth of evidence in engaging workplaces in the TB program, this pilot project demonstrated an approach to engaging MSMEs and other organized community groups, specifically in installing TB policies and programs in their workplaces. A total of 62 cluster groups from the National Capital Region (NCR), Region III, and Region IV-A participated in the project. Activities included stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and creation and implementation of TB workplace policies and social and behavior change communication plans. These interventions raised awareness on TB, started conversations on the impact of social determinants of TB on their health-seeking behaviors, led workers to undergo TB screening, and established partnerships with their local health units. Although several challenges were encountered, this pilot approach to TB control and prevention is recommended to be replicated with modifications. Context-specific approaches tailored to the nature of the MSMEs and organized community groups may also be scaled up due to promising initial results.