Programme launched to call for support to TB patients

Medical checkup provided for a TB patient (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The health sector has called for the involvement of authorities
at all levels to act for a Vietnam without tuberculosis (TB) patients at a
ceremony held recently in Hanoi.

The event was organised by the National Lung Hospital in response to the World
TB Day 2018 (March 24) themed .

“We need the participation of the whole political system. Relevant agencies and
local people should be equipped with sufficient knowledge and skills to protect
themselves by accessing to available modern TB prevention nationwide”, Director
of the National Lung Hospital Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Nhung stressed.

This year, the National TB Prevention and Control Programme will expand TB
screening to suspected drug-resistant tuberculosis cases and 100 percent of new
AFB (+) TB patients. Thus, it will increase gene machines, ensure adequate
cartridge and falcon supply and build TB patient management models, among
others, he noted.

On the occasion, the programme launched a writing contest “Let’s together end
TB in Vietnam” to raise public awareness of TB and measures to fight TB. Also,
the TB Patients Support Fund came into sight to mobilise financial sources for
the s to provide more treatment opportunities for TB patients as
part of efforts to minimise TB infection in the community.

TB remains the leading cause of fatality in the world, leading to the deaths of
nearly 2 million people every year, particularly resistant TB has threatened
global health. In Vietnam, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that
there are nearly 130,000 new cases of TB diagnosed each year, resulting in some
16,000 deaths in Vietnam in 2015.

Vietnam ranked 16h among 30 countries with the highest number of TB
patients in the world. It also ranked 13th among 30 countries with
the biggest burden of multi drug-resistant TB in the world.

The country is a leading nation in terms of TB prevention efforts. The rate of
successful treatment for multi drug resistant TB in Vietnam is over 70 percent,
much higher than the world’s rate of 54 percent.

Thanks to early detection and effective treatment, TB-related deaths reduced
3,000 cases during 2015-2016. The country has set target to cut 30 percent of
TB infected cases and 40 percent of TB deaths during 2015-2020.-VNA