The SAARC Regional Training on Capacity Building of Health Professionals on TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) was successfully held from 26–28 November 2025 at NH Colombo Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The programme was conducted in line with the approved calendar of activities of the SAARC Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Centre (STAC).

The three-day regional training aimed to strengthen the capacity of health professionals from SAARC Member States in the correct use of TB Preventive Therapy; scale up TPT implementation across health facilities; and promote multi-stakeholder collaboration for effective delivery of TPT services.

Health professionals from the National TB Programmes of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka participated in the event. The course was facilitated by experts from the WHO Country Office in Sri Lanka, STAC (Kathmandu), and the National Programme for Tuberculosis Control and Chest Diseases (NPTCCD), Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Champika Wickramasinghe, Acting Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, as Chief Guest. Dr. Pramitha Shanthilatha, Director, NPTCCD, chaired the opening session.

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Anuj Bhattachan, Director, STAC, outlined the objectives and structure of the training and expressed appreciation to the Chief Guest, dignitaries, facilitators, and participants. Dr. S. Rishikesavan, Consultant Pulmonologist and President of the Sri Lanka College of Pulmonologists, delivered special remarks. The session concluded with remarks from Dr. Pramitha Shanthilatha, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Rabeya Sultana, Deputy Director, STAC.

The training programme was organized by Dr. Onali Rajapaksha (Consultant Community Physician) and Dr. Ruwanthika Kariyakarawana (Medical Officer) of the NPTCCD.

The scientific sessions covered a comprehensive range of topics, including TB infection, Sri Lanka’s TB preventive programme, diagnosis of TB infection, TPT among high-risk groups, management of adverse events, recording and reporting for TPT, adherence support, community engagement, the common SAARC strategy for rolling out TPT, multi-stakeholder collaboration, preventive treatment for DR-TB contacts, regional research collaboration (CRITIC case study), and discussions on TPT challenges and the way forward. The programme also included a field visit to a TB clinic in Colombo.