Infrastructure and Equipment

Infrastructure and Equipment

The STDC may preferably be located in the same premises where State TB Cell (STC) is situated or in close proximity for better co-ordination.

Every STDC/RTPMC needs to have adequate infrastructure and equipment to conduct its necessary functions. These include office rooms, training/meeting rooms, laboratory facility and residential/hostel facilities.

Office Rooms and Related Equipment

The STDC office rooms include the chamber of the STDC-Director, rooms for section in-charges (Training), SM&E and Microbiology divisions/units. It should also include appropriate space for the Training and SM&E section. It is desirable that the establishment section is located adjacent to the Director/Head of the Institution room/Chamber. STDCs/RTPMCs should also be equipped with adequate number of computers/laptops for each staff of the STDC.

Training/Meeting Rooms

  • Auditorium with a seating capacity of approximately 50 people. It should be equipped with necessary audio-visual (AV) support.
  • A separate room with a capacity of approximately 40–50 people for conducting district review and other administrative meetings.
  • Three rooms with seating capacity of 15–20 people each. There needs to be separate class rooms wherever possible to have close interaction with each trainee during physical training.

Residential/Hostel Facilities

The number of residential facilities (approximately/at least 25 rooms) need to be provisioned based on the expected number of trainees undergoing concurrent training at the STDC. These may also be used for boarding and lodging of programme managers during review meetings. The hostel needs to have canteen, dining hall and housekeeping arrangements.

Modernized Training Unit    

The STDCs/RTPMCs should be provided with the necessary equipment to effectively deliver trainings as per the requirements of the Modernized Training Strategy of NTEP. The Units may be installed in the auditorium/two training/meeting rooms as described above. Modernized Training Units at STDCs require facilities, such as:    

  • High-speed internet connectivity (either through a >50 MBPs leased-line or through a >200 MBPs Broadband/Fibre connection);
  • Virtual meetings/knowledge dissemination setup (Virtual meeting service subscription, 3 Televisions, Camera, speakers, microphone);
  • Interactive Digital Board (>65-inch diagonal size), or LCD Projector and screen (minimum 3 sets) along with Laptop or computer;
  • Digital devices/tablets (minimum 40 sets) for the trainees;
  • Portable AV equipment such as speakers, wireless microphones, laser pointers for trainings at satellite sites (minimum 2 sets).

Transportation

The STDCs need to have vehicle support to effectively deliver SM&E activities as per the policies of the State and for field-visit demonstrations to the trainees. If no vehicles are available, it may be hired from a suitable outsourcing agency.

The above training, residential and equipment facilities ideally be dedicated for the STDCs/RTPMC, but may also be shared with or borrowed from any regional/State Institute (SIHFW) or medical colleges as appropriate. 5 Guidelines and Norms for STDCs in NTEP 2023

Infrastructure for IRLs

The IRLs established should have the following infrastructure:

  1. At least 2 rooms for sputum examination (Processing and Microscopy)
  2. Sample receipt room
  3. One room for sample opening with Biosafety Level-II facility
  4. TB containment laboratory
  5. Reagent and Media Preparation room
  6. Equipment area
  7. One washing and sterilization room
  8. Three physically separated rooms for conducting Line Probe Assay
  9. One room for Nucleic Acid Amplification Test activities
  10. One room for Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Ni-kshay Operator (DEO) and reporting
  11. Separate staff room with washroom for males and females
  12. One store room
  13. Walk in Cold room

The above infrastructure and related equipment and consumables need to follow Technical specifications provided by NTEP (Lab consumables, Equipment).

RakeshPS