Digital adherence technology (DAT) can be used by tuberculosis (TB) patients and their health care workers (HCWs) to ensure treatment adherence. Directly observed treatment (DOT) is still the worldwide standard procedure to make sure patients are taking their medication as prescribed. This requires daily face-to-face contact between HCW and patient, which can be burdensome for both parties in many ways. In this video, made in Ethiopia, Tsedale explains the advantages she experienced using a DAT, the medication sleeve/label 99DOTS, in comparison to DOT.

Tsedale says: “Two years ago, when I followed my previous TB treatment, I used to visit the facility every day. It was very tiresome, especially when you’re far away from the facility”. The use of the DAT, provided by the ASCENT project, has reduced the amount of visits to the facility.

She takes her medication at home and sends a text to a toll-free number, confirming her medication intake. She goes on about the DAT: ” Sometimes, when I forget to take my medication, it sends me a reminder message. The technology is a good reminder for those who forget to take their medication on time”.

Now Tsedale is healthy! At the moment of recording she only had one month of medication left to complete her treatment.

Watch the full video here:

The Unitaid-funded and supported ASCENT project is led by KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation in partnership with The Aurum Institute, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and PATH.