Tien Giang province reported over 2,200 cases of TB in 2023, making it one of the highest TB burden provinces in Vietnam. On August 5, USAID Global Health Bureau Chief of Staff Ashley Boccuzzi visited the Chau Thanh District Health Center to see how USAID is improving TB care in remote areas of Vietnam. The delegation observed AI-equipped and portable X-ray machines used in the Double X Strategy, and discussed the program’s impact with local officials. Double X (2X) is an innovative approach, named for its use of both chest X-rays and state-of-the-art rapid diagnostic technology called GeneXpert, to detect more TB cases—and to detect them earlier in their onset.
Since 2020, USAID has introduced innovative models, such as the 2X strategy, to enhance TB detection in Tien Giang, resulting in the identification of 380 TB cases and nearly 250 latent TB infections. This effort highlights the success of USAID’s work in supporting Vietnam’s goal to end TB by 2035. [Support to End TB]
