DUSHANBE, June 13, 2009, Asia-Plus — The department for treatment of multiresistant TB sufferers was opened at Republican TB Hospital, Machiton, on June 12.
According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), it has become possible due to support of the Government of Federal Republic of Germany.
In February 2006, the governments of Tajikistan and Germany signed an agreement on implementation of the TB prevention program in Tajikistan. Under this agreement, repair-and-renewal operations for a total amount of 3.8 million euros have been conducted at the republican TB Hospital, the source at MoH said, noting that Euro 1.5 million worth of equipment will be installed at the hospital under financial support of German Development Bank (KfW).
“As far as the department for treatment of multiresistant TB sufferers is concerned, Euro 650,000 worth of repair-and-renewal operations have been conducted by local construction company, Makhsus,” said the source, “Equipment and furniture for a total amount of 250,000 U.S. dollars have been provided by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund).” The source noted that 5 physicians and 18 nurses would work with the department.
We will recall that Mr. Saleban Omar, a program manager for the UNDP, which distributes Global Fund money in Tajikistan, said in an interview with Asia-Plus in March this year that the Global Fund intends to start treatment of 50 multiresistant TB sufferers in Tajikistan this year as part of Round 6 of the Global Fund Grant. In all, Round 6 of the Global Fund Grant is expected to provide medical treatment for some 700 multiresistant TB sufferers in Tajikistan. Treatment of primary TB takes some 6-8 months, while treatment of the multiresistant TB requires 24 months and significant funds.
