DUSHANBE, March 13, Asia-Plus — Nearly nine million new cases of TB arise in the world every year, US Ambassador to Tajikistan, Ms. Tracey Ann Jacobson, remarked at a seminar on a role of journalists in raising TB awareness of the population that opened in Dushanbe today.
According to her, despite progress made lately, TB remains a major public health problem. “The United States is pleased to continue supporting partners engaged in combating tuberculosis in Tajikistan to decrease the burden of this disease,” Ambassador Jacobson said.
Speaking at the seminar, the Republican TV-Prevention Center head Sadullo Saidaliyev reported on the number of the TB cases in the country and a progress of implementation of the national TB prevention program.
According to him, introduction of the DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) strategy in the country has allowed increasing TB detection rate in the country.
This WHO-recommended TB control strategy combines five components: government commitment; case detection by sputum smear microscopy; standardized treatment regimen with directly observed treatment for at least the first two months; a regular drug supply; and a standardized recording and reporting system that allows assessment of treatment results.
As of December 31, 2007, the TB rate in Tajikistan has stood at 84.5 cases per 100,000 people, Saidaliyev said. He added that over the past two years, the TB mortality rate in the country has stood at 6.5 per 100,000 people.
A press conference with participation of senior representatives from the ministry of health and heads of the TB-prevention services will be held tomorrow.
We will recall that the seminar is staged by the Republic TB-Prevention Center under support of the USAID, Project HOPE and the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
