DUSHANBE, October 18, Asia-Plus – 3,547 new cases of tuberculosis have been registered in Tajikistan over the past nine months, which is 513 cases more compared to last year, Health Minister Nusrtaullo Fayzulloyev announced at a news conference in Dushanbe today.
Asked about reasons for increase in a number of cases of tuberculosis, Fayzulloyev linked that to improvement of work on detection the disease due to introduction of the DOTS (Directly Observed Training Short Course), TB control strategy.
DOTS now treats thousands people in various regions of the country.
The minister noted that a number of international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have provided assistance to Tajikistan in tackling the TB problems.
According to him, the second DOTS program has been launched in the republic. “We have failed to implement the first program completely for poor financing,” Fayzulloyev said.
“The second program providing free medical examination and treatment for TB has to date covered 41 cities and districts in the country,” the minister said, noting that the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has provided US$2.4 million to combat tuberculosis in Tajikistan.
According to him, diagnosing and treating TB patients in four jails and central hospital of the ministry of justice is an important achievement of the implementation of this program. “These facilities have been provided with five binocular microscopes, expandable lab materials, and medicines for 600 patients,” said Fayzulloyev, “Besides, three labs have been renovated and provided with equipment under support of international organization CARITAS.”
The country’s authorities have also taken efforts to combat the disease. The government recently passed a resolution obligating to strengthen work on combating this disease in two villages of the Vose districts, according to the minister. He also added that Tajik MPs are preparing a new law on combating TB.
