Launching ACT5 STUDY to test and treat to end tuberculosis in Vietnam
On April 26, 2022, the ACT5 Study was formally launched in Ca Mau province with the participation of Professor Guy Marks (President of the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease), leaders of the National TB Program, representatives of National Lung Hospital, Ca Mau Department of Health, Ca Mau Lung Hospital, and Can Tho Lung Hospital departments.
Following the success of the ACT3 study carried out in 2013 - 2018, the ACT5 study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a new strategy to end TB in Vietnam.
The ACT 5 Study is developing evidence that will underpin a transformation in the global approach to TB elimination in low and middle-income countries with a high burden of TB. Our hypothesis is that universal testing and treatment for latent TB infection, added to active case finding for TB disease, will reduce the prevalence of TB among adults in the general community.
This is a cooperation program between the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and the National TB Program, implemented by Ca Mau Lung Hospital and participated by Can Tho Lung Hospital in the period of 2019-2024. It is expected that there will be about 165,000 beneficiaries who are people aged 5 years or older, living in 208 hamlets (equivalent to about 78,000 people) in Ca Mau province and randomly selected to join the program.