Mehamed is a father of one daughter, husband and merchant of used clothes. He lives in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) at the age of 27. Shortly after his diagnosis, he started his treatment supported by a smart pillbox provided by the ASCENT project, funded by Unitaid and led by KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation.
The clock is ticking: ASCENT is picking up speed
Today is World Tuberculosis Day. This year’s theme, ‘The Clock is Ticking’, tells us that the world is running out of time to act on the commitments to end tuberculosis (TB), especially now that the COVID-19 pandemic is hampering the progress of the ongoing actions.
Randomization ceremony in Tanzania
The ASCENT Tanzania team conducted a randomization ceremony to assign health facilities to intervention arms and standard of care study arms, this is an important milestone that kicks off the ASCENT project in Tanzania.
ASCENT South Africa launches at randomization event
The ASCENT South Africa team recently held a successful randomization event which also served as the kick-off of the digital adherence technologies (DAT) project in South Africa.
Empowering youth in South Africa through the ASCENT project
The ASCENT team in South Africa has completed a training for the first group of interns that will take over research specific duties from the staff of healthcare facilities. This way the healthcare workers can focus on their patients.
ASCENT South Africa conducts site assessment visits
The ASCENT team in South Africa recently visited healthcare facilities as a part of the selection process for sites to be randomized to participate in the ASCENT project. During these visits, the team assessed each facility on their standard of care for Tuberculosis (TB) patients, as well as the TB notifications.
How digital technologies can empower patients to succeed in TB treatment
The run-in phase of the ASCENT project has started, enrolling TB patients on digital adherence technologies in the Philippines and Ethiopia. Ukraine, Tanzania and South Africa will follow soon. With funding and support, Unitaid makes this project possible.
ASCENT randomization ceremony in Ukraine
ASCENT Ukraine conducted a randomization ceremony to assign health facilities to intervention arms and standard of care study arms.
ASCENT Philippines gears up for enrollment of first patients
ASCENT Philippines distributed all necessary digital adherence technologies intervention facilities in Bulacan and Pampanga. This enabled the run-in phase to start: all facilities are now enrolling patients on these innovative digital technologies.
The Community Advisory Board for the ASCENT project is established
The Community Advisory Board (CAB) for the ASCENT project in Ethiopia was established to guard the safety and well-being of beneficiaries/study participants.