Abstract: Objective To increase case detection rate of new smear positive TB in the poor and remote area in Anhui province. Methods 2 387 405 students were mobilized to transmit the information about TB among the population of 15 440 000 in 24 poverty and remote counties in Anhui province. Incentive mechanism was applied in county TB staff to increase case detection. Results 19 937 staff were trained, 6 959 school were involved in the study, 2 387 405 students were mobilized and 6 043 786, population were included in the survey. The information of 40 662 suspects were collected directly by the cards filled by students, among whom 23 079 were confirmed as TB suspects by township doctors. The examination rate of suspects among the population was 3.8‰. 5 462 new smear positive TB cases were detected (among them 4 617 were with limited access to health care service) , increased by 4 030 (3.8 folds) compared with the same period in last year. 5,098 new smear positive TB cases were successfully treated. At the same time, 1,377 re-treatment cases and 5,938 smear negative but active TB cases were treated. Thus, totally 12,777 cases received treatment. Conclusions Anhui FIDELIS project has greatly promoted case detection of new smear positive TB in poverty and remote area,and increased the capacity of TB staff in in Anhui province.

Key words: Pulmonary tuberculosis/prevention and control, Health education