Final SeroSelectTB Consortium Meeting held in Moshi, Tanzania, 2-4 September 2025

NIPH and KCMC University organized the Final Consortium Meeting at the Weru Weru River Lodge on the foothills of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. All participants were welcomed as is tradition at Weru Weru by Maasai dancers.

The final gathering of the SeroSelectTB project was opened by the Vice Chancellor at KCMC University, Professor Ephata Kaaya; “We are doing more than closing a chapter, we are celebrating the partnership and this groundbreaking project. And we shall also discuss the TB challenges we still must still address”. Sixty-four participants attended the meeting including SeroSelectTB consortium partners, team members and management from KCMC University, representatives from the regional and district TB control authorities in Kilimanjaro, Kibong’oto Infectious Disease Hospital (formerly Kibong’oto TB Referral Hospital), researchers from KCMC University not affiliated with the SeroSelectTB project, and healthcare workers from the field sites in Tanzania.

Photo: J Msemo

Presentations addressed a review of the SeroSelectTB project, achievements and challenges in Tanzania, Ethiopia, and South Africa, the data management program and ongoing data analysis, and SeroSelectTB test kit production and test performance in detecting HIV coinfected TB patients. Diagnostic delay, TB diagnostic activities at KNCV, and TB research and services in Tanzania and possibilities for further SeroSelectTB research at the Kibong’oto Infectious Disease Hospital were discussed.

Experiences from a participant enrolled in the intervention arm, a report from the project’s Community Advisory Board (CAB) in Tanzania, and community and healthcare workers’ experiences and perceptions from implementing the SeroSelectTB test at study sites were presented. The CAB concluded that the SeroSelectTB test simplifies testing, provides rapid results and referral for confirmatory testing, and thereby motivates persons to seek medical care at nearby dispensaries. It was also suggested that SeroSelectTB could be brought directly to the community through mobile services for active case finding. The CAB reported that the short waiting time for test results was a powerful motivator for seeking care and encourages adherence to treatment.

Sustainability was a motif throughout the meeting. Importantly, discussions addressing ways in which SeroSelectTB activities - and especially community engagement - could be sustained and lessons learned were led by Abraham Aseffa. Topics included product development (pre-qualification, registration, roll-out), research partnerships and collaboration, responsibility for community engagement (national/ regional), the role of and opportunities for post graduate students (use SeroSelectTB data and/or samples for additional investigations), and mechanisms or platforms by which continued research, partnerships, and community engagement can be facilitated.

The last day was devoted to a working session for all coauthors regarding the multicenter manuscript. Discussions led by Miloje Savic addressed results, data analysis, interpretation, and conclusions. Tables and diagrams prepared for manuscript were presented and reviewed. The meeting concluded with a consortium dinner in the Weru Weru garden with entertainment provided by local Chagga dancers, a Bantu ethnic group from the Kilimanjaro Region, and a taste of the local fermented bananas and millet brew, mbege, which has important cultural and nutritional value.

Before the meeting project team members from KCMC University, Miloje Savic, and Carol Holm-Hansen visited Asha Juma Mbwambo, a participant who had been enrolled in the intervention arm at the Kahe Health Center.

“A patient’s journey”, documenting participant enrollment, completing the questionnaire, sample collection, and follow-up during treatment, was organized by Gaudensia Olomi from the Health Department at the Kilimanjaro Regional Administrative Secretary's Office in Moshi. Asha was willing to repeat the entire procedure for project documentation purposes.

The visit started at Asha’s home, where an interview was conducted. Her daughter was present during the interview while her husband was in the garden. Initially, Asha went to a private health facility where they told her she had “problems” like diabetes or UTI. After having been sick for 2-3 months, she reported to a health center in Moshi District Council (rural), Kilimanjaro region, was diagnosed with TB and received treatment. The medicines made her feel very sick, but she felt better after a while and continued with the treatment. Asha completed her treatment and reported for all check-ups and 6-month follow-up. At the conclusion of the interview, Asha was asked if she had any advice for others in her village. She said the government should educate the community about TB symptoms; whenever someone feels sick, they should get tested at the health centre. Asha stated that the SeroSelectTB test is good, it gives the results quickly, and treatment can be started at once.

After the home visit we accompanied Asha to the Kahe Health Center where the enrollment procedure and questionnaire were completed, and all data entered in REDCap. A fingerprick blood sample was taken, the SeroSelectTB test performed, and venous blood and sputum samples were collected. She also “returned” to the health center to receive her TB drugs according to the scheduled regimen and the “mock” 6-month follow-up. The team drove Asha back to her home after the documentation was completed.

The project is very grateful for Asha’s willingness to participate and share her experiences.

Asante sana, Asha!

The meeting organized by the SeroSelectTB team at KCMC University in collaboration with the project lead at NIPH was successful! While our EDCTP2-funded SeroSelectTB project is nearing completion, the work is not finished. It is our hope that the work conducted be an inspiration for future endeavors that will aim to improve TB diagnostics and accessibility for those in need.

The "sunset" gathering was also bittersweet for the project lead as it marked the end of her 36-year research career in Tanzania. Carol Holm-Hansen started her career in global health on the foothills of Kilimanjaro in late 1989 and will end her active career in research where it all started, on the foothills of Kilimanjaro, in late 2025. Asante sana to all colleagues and friends in Tanzania, and to all consortium partners and team members for their invaluable contributions to the SeroSelectTB project.

Mpaka tukutane tena!

Photos: C. Holm-Hansen with permission except otherwise noted.