Vietnam invited to share experience in TB fight at global conference

Minister of Health (fourth, left) presents a gift to Mario Raviglione after a meeting in Geneva (Photo: VNA)

Geneva (VNA) – Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim
Tien has been invited to share Vietnam’s experience and success lessons on
(TB) prevention at a WHO global conference on the fight against TB
in Moscow, Russia, this November.

The invitation was made by Mario Raviglione,
Director of the Global TB Programme at the WHO, at a meeting with Tien on the
sidelines of a session of the WHO Executive Board, of which Vietnam has been a
member since 2016, in Geneva on January 24.

On behalf of the WHO, Mario Raviglione
appreciated Tien and the Vietnamese delegation’s special assistance to the TB
fight in the country and around the world. 

He also pledged the best possible support to
Vietnam in this fight.

Vietnam, as one of the countries implementing a
national TB control programme, has closely liaised with the and the Global
TB Programme. The two sides plan to co-organise a policy dialogue on TB and
multidrug-resistant TB within the framework of the APEC Economic Leaders’
Meeting slated for August this year.

The dialogue is set to focus on enhancing the
fight against TB and multidrug-resistant TB in the APEC economies.

Nguyen Viet Nhung, Director of the central
hospital of TB and lung diseases, said political commitment is the most
important factor in the success of an anti-TB programme. 

To reach a political commitment, policy makers,
Government leaders and the health ministry in each country must be fully aware
of the importance of the TB fight. And the APEC forum is the best opportunity
to draw their attention to this dangerous communicable disease, he added.-VNA