Advancing TB Innovation in Zambia: Insights from Dr. Silumbwe’s Ndola Visit

Dr. Silumbwe, a SOFAR postdoctoral researcher, recently traveled to Ndola alongside TB Reach Wave 11 Plus Principal Investigator, Dr. Amofa-Sekyi, to support the next phase of tuberculosis (TB) innovation in Zambia. As the project’s social scientist, Dr. Silumbwe will play a key role in shaping research and implementation strategies.

The TB Reach Wave 11 Plus project builds on the success of the “Ubumi Bwandi” (“My Health, My Choice”) initiative—an integrated wellness screening and prevention program launched in January 2023. The project has already made significant strides in identifying individuals with undiagnosed TB and other chronic conditions, while providing health education, multi-disease screening, and preventive therapies through the Chipulukusu–Mapalo Clinic and a dedicated community hub.

Under this new phase, novel point-of-care (NPOC) TB swab testing devices will be deployed across 22 clinics in Ndola. These affordable and efficient machines can detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis using both sputum samples and tongue swabs, offering a promising advancement in TB diagnostics.

During his visit, Dr. Silumbwe toured several implementation sites, including the Ubumi Bwandi community hub, where he observed screening processes such as CAD4TB chest X-ray analysis and symptom-based TB screening. He also visited Mapalo Clinic, which serves the Chipulukusu community and hosts a mobile TB clinic operated by Zambart. There, he engaged with community health workers (CHWs) and learned about the respiratory clinic that supports patients with post-TB lung disease.

With a strong focus on implementation research, Dr. Silumbwe identified several key areas for further study. Of particular interest are the smoking cessation brief interventions delivered by CHWs at the community hub. He plans to explore the experiences of both participants and CHWs to better understand the effectiveness and delivery of these interventions.

In addition, his research will examine the rollout of NPOC diagnostic tools—focusing on how healthcare providers adapt to and integrate these technologies into existing systems, as well as community and provider perceptions of the new approach. His work will also contribute to identifying pathways for scaling up these cost-effective diagnostic solutions across Zambia.

Dr. Silumbwe’s visit marks an important step in strengthening research-driven implementation, ensuring that innovative TB interventions are both effective and sustainable within local health systems.