Medical checkup provided for a TB patient (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The health sector has called for the involvement of authoritiesat all levels to act for a Vietnam without tuberculosis (TB) patients at aceremony held recently in Hanoi.
The event was organised by the National Lung Hospital in response to the WorldTB Day 2018 (March 24) themed “Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world”.
“We need the participation of the whole political system. Relevant agencies andlocal people should be equipped with sufficient knowledge and skills to protectthemselves by accessing to available modern TB prevention nationwide”, Directorof the National Lung Hospital Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Nhung stressed.
This year, the National TB Prevention and Control Programme will expand TBscreening to suspected drug-resistant tuberculosis cases and 100 percent of newAFB (+) TB patients. Thus, it will increase gene machines, ensure adequatecartridge and falcon supply and build TB patient management models, amongothers, he noted.
On the occasion, the programme launched a writing contest “Let’s together endTB 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 forthe health sectors to provide more treatment opportunities for TB patients aspart of efforts to minimise TB infection in the community.
TB remains the leading cause of fatality in the world, leading to the deaths ofnearly 2 million people every year, particularly resistant TB has threatenedglobal health. In Vietnam, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates thatthere are nearly 130,000 new cases of TB diagnosed each year, resulting in some16,000 deaths in Vietnam in 2015.
Vietnam ranked 16h among 30 countries with the highest number of TBpatients in the world. It also ranked 13th among 30 countries withthe biggest burden of multi drug-resistant TB in the world.
The country is a leading nation in terms of TB prevention efforts. The rate ofsuccessful 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 reduced3,000 cases during 2015-2016. The country has set target to cut 30 percent ofTB infected cases and 40 percent of TB deaths during 2015-2020.-VNA
VNA
