USAID launches 5-year program to fight TB in Uzbekistan

AKIPRESS.COM - The U.S. Agency for International Development in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan on March 11 officially launched a new 5-year program to fight tuberculosis, the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent said. The event was attended by First Deputy Minister of Health of Uzbekistan Bahodir Yusupaliev, U.S. Ambassador Daniel Rosenblum, WHO Representative Dr Lianne Kuppens.
Uzbekistan achieved big successes in reduction of TB incidence and mortality rates, partially due to the joint efforts of the Ministry of Health, U.S. Government and international partners. Yet, TB drug-resistant form remains a serious problem in Uzbekistan, where 8% of all new TB cases in 2019 were resistant to the two first line anti-TB drugs.
USAID launched 4 new projects with the aim to provide technical assistance to the Uzbek government in reduction of costs for anti-TB drugs and diagnostic equipment, supply of high-quality anti-TB drugs, adoption of the latest protocols and recommendations of the World Health Organization in diagnostics and treatment of drug-resistant TB.