Virtual conduct of regional SORT IT training under unprecedented pandemic conditions

23/07/2020

Another great milestone achieved! Under the unprecedented pandemic conditions, the 2nd Eastern European and Central Asian (EECA) Regional SORT IT course was successfully implemented.

Great collaboration between all mentors and mentees located in 12 countries/eight different time zones (10 hour difference!) and the first use of the specialized training platform (e-SORT IT) enabled virtual conduct of the course and has led to successful completion of the milestones.

Operational research projects on optimized case finding, use of digital technology for TB diagnosis and care and adjunctive interventions in complex cases for key populations in EECA were completed and nine manuscripts ready-for-submission are generated. The evidence was produced by EECA researchers under the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT), a global partnership coordinated by TDR (the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases).

This specific SORT IT programme was implemented by: the Tuberculosis Research and Prevention Center (TBRPC), Armenia; The Alliance for Public Health, Ukraine; The Centre for Operational Research, The Union, France; the Operational Research Unit (LuxOR), Médecins Sans Frontières, Brussels Operational Centre, Luxembourg; Sustainable Health Systems Sierra Leone; and TDR.

TDR and partners are able to conduct their work thanks to the commitment and support of a variety of funders. These include long-term core contributors from national governments and international institutions, as well as designated funding for specific projects within current priorities. A full list of TDR donors is available here.

This SORT IT programme was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and supported by implementing partners.