General Information |
| Organization Type - Primary: |
Non-Governmental Organization |
| Organization Type - Secondary: |
Other Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) |
| Is your organization legally registered in your country: |
Yes |
| Organization Reach: |
National |
| Organization Description: |
Civil Society Movement Against Tuberculosis in Sierra Leone (CISMAT-SL) is a Civil Society led movement, non-profit making and a coalition of Civil Society Organizations working on the campaign against tuberculosis in Sierra Leone in order to promote the involvement of Civil Society groups in TB campaigns and increase advocacy efforts for the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of TB in Sierra Leone.
The organization was established as a result of how HIV/AIDS is fueling a resurgence of TB in many areas of the world particularly Sierra Leone. Global incidence of TB has increased over the past 10 years, killing approximately 2 million people annually. At the same time, TB is a leading cause of death by infectious disease for people living with HIV/AIDS. Yet when contrasted with the extent of social mobilization around HIV/AIDS, the lack of political commitment and Civil Society involvement to TB control is striking. Though there is no current research on TB and HIV burden, but Sierra Leone also bears a huge TB and HIV burden like other countries namely Nigeria. Unfortunately when compared to HIV, awareness about TB among the general population in Sierra Leone is extremely poor. Despite the existence of a free TB treatment programme, information about how TB is spread, signs and symptoms and where to access TB treatment services is still lacking.
Despite significant progress made by the Sierra Leone National Leprosy and TB Control Programme (NLTCP) in the implementation and scale up of TB Control interventions, there is low political commitment to TB in contrast to what obtain in HIV/AIDS Programmes. Lack of civil society involvement in TB and interaction between TB and HIV among policy makers, care providers and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Other factors include the high level stigma surrounding TB; Insufficient Government Funding for TB programmes compared to HIV as TB/HIV issues is not captured in the Sierra Leone national budget. However, there is little or no evidence of any printed po |
| |
| Total number of staff in your organization: |
1 - 5 |
| Number of full-time staff who are directly involved with TB: |
1 - 5 |
| Number of part-time staff who are directly involved with TB: |
1 - 5 |
| Number of volunteers who are directly involved with TB: |
11 - 25 |
| |
| What is your organization's annual budget (USD) dedicated to TB? |
$10,001-$25,000 |
| How did you hear about the Stop TB Partnership: |
Internet search |
| Why do you wish join the Stop TB Partnership: |
Involvement in Stop TB Working Groups |
| |
| Are you a member of a Stop TB national partnership: |
No |
| Are you in contact with your national TB programme: |
Yes |
| Please tell us how your organization is contributing to your country's national TB control plan: |
| engage policy makers, care providers and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and TB patients on TB/HIV policy development relating to stigma and discrimination among others, as well as raise the awareness of the general populace on TB/HIV prevention in Sierra Leone through building the capacity of CSOs on TB/HIV advocacy related issues as to enable them respond to issues of TB/HIV affecting the lives of people in Sierra Leone. |
| |
Geographical Reach |
| Which country is your headquarters located in: |
Sierra Leone |
| Which WHO region is the main focus of your work: |
African |
Which countries do you do operate in:
(This includes countries you are conducting activities in) |
Sierra Leone
|
