The HIV/TB Agency, Information, and Services (AIS) Activity, collaborating with implementing partners, always thrive to improve the quality of their services for populations at risk. In a bid to address the challenge of accessibility for TB screening services in Myanmar, the AIS partner, the Population Services International (PSI), deploys the CareConnect Chatbot that is designed to facilitate TB self-screening. Despite the effectiveness of the CareConnect Chatbot for TB self-screening, limited awareness and accessibility remained a barrier. To promote the CareConnect services and increase user uptake, reaching a wider audience and ensuring accessibility for all potential users was crucial.
To address this challenge, the PSI collaborated with Orchid Pharmacy, a new pharmacy chain operating 13 branches across nine townships in Yangon. A soft launch at Orchid Pharmacy Thanlyin branch in early June 2024 distributed flyers and encouraged TB self-screening using the CareConnect chatbot. For clients without internet or smartphones, in-person screening was provided. Individuals who completed the screening process were gifted with towels. The soft launch at Thanlyin branch successfully introduced CareConnect to new audiences, establishing a foundation to scale CareConnect services across all Orchid Pharmacy branches by end of June 2024.
Collaborating with Orchid Pharmacy significantly extends the reach of CareConnect services, bolstering TB screening efforts within the community. Addressing accessibility challenges and promoting services through diverse channels aims to enhance the CareConnect uptake. Future collaborations with more pharmacies will amplify these efforts, contributing to improved public health outcomes through early TB detection and intervention. The expansion across all Orchid Pharmacy branches will crucially advance this endeavor.