By Hamu Madzedze
Online Journalist-Zimbabwe
The World Health Organisation (WHO ) has expressed optimism that the new TB regimen will significantly reduce the disease burden in Central Asian countries.
This was revealed by the organisation's Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P Kluge at the high-level regional dialogue for Europe and Central Asia in Tashkent ,Uzbekistan.
Dr Kluge noted that four out of five Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan ,are among the 30 countries with the highest burden of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis( MDR-TB )globally.
However he said the new regimen , which is shorter ,offers hope for a decrease in MDR-TB cases in the region and improves the lives of patients in the coming years and months.
"In the past ,treatment for MDR-TB could take up to three years,but with this new regimen ,treatment time has been significantly reduced to six months with fewer pills and no injectables, which allows patients to receive care in their communities, surrounded by loved ones and some can even continue working"said Dr Kluge.
He commended Uzbekistan for its success over the decade in enhancing its diagnosis,treatment and monitoring process for TB.
"The country has made great progress on TB ,thanks to the leadership of the Ministry of Health and the success rate has improved from 82 % in 2012 to 89% in 2021 "said Dr Kluge .
He also pointed out that while there is still a long way to go in the fight against TB in the European region there is still hope to turn the tide on TB .
"Friends ,we are a long way from ending TB in the European Region but there is hope on the horizon"said the WHO regional Director for Europe.
In 2022 the World Health Organisation recommended a 6 month oral regimen for drug-resistant TB and is recommended for individuals with Multi-resistant or Rifampicin-resistant TB and those with additional resistance to fluoroquinolones (pre-XDR-TB)
The meeting was organised jointly by WHO/Europe and the Stop TB Partnership.
Comments