Over 96% of tuberculosis patients in Nghe An are successfully treated.

This was the information given at the Conference "Summary of tuberculosis prevention and control activities in 2018 and implementation of the 2019 plan" organized by the Department of Health in coordination with Nghe An Lung Hospital on the afternoon of January 11.

Mr. Dau Minh Quang - Director of Nghe An Lung Hospital evaluated the effectiveness of tuberculosis prevention and control work in the province in the past year. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

According to statistics from the World Health Organization, Vietnam ranks 16th among 30 countries with the highest tuberculosis burden globally. In recent years, the tuberculosis situation in Vietnam has tended to decrease, however, the work of preventing and controlling tuberculosis still faces many difficulties.

Representatives of health departments, medical centers, and hospitals in the province attended the conference. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

In recent times, under the direction of the Central Hospital - National Tuberculosis Control Program, the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Health, and Nghe An Lung Hospital have actively implemented activities: Propaganda; detection, admission and treatment; Training, supervision and support for lower levels... Thanks to that, the directivesAll of Nghe An province's tuberculosis prevention and control activities are highly appreciated by the National Tuberculosis Control Program.

According to the report of the Provincial Tuberculosis Prevention Program, in 2018, the total number of TB cases detected, collected and managed was 2,319, of which 1,163 TB patients had evidence of bacteria; TB patients of all types accounted for 77.3/100,000 people.

Tuberculosis control work was maintained in 100% of districts and communes in the area, the tuberculosis control network continued to develop; the rate of population that had sputum testing was 1.22%; the successful treatment rate was 96.6%, the rate of treatment abandonment was 0.6%. The number of tuberculosis patients tested for HIV reached 98.3%. The number of pediatric tuberculosis cases decreased compared to 2017 and the rate of children receiving preventive treatment was 67%. Detected 37 cases of multidrug-resistant and pre-extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis, 42 patients were admitted for treatment, including 3 pre-extremely drug-resistant patients.

Over 96% of tuberculosis patients in Nghe An are successfully treated. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

At the conference, representatives of health units raised difficulties in TB prevention and control activities at the grassroots health level such as: Limited funding for program activities, intermittent drug supply from the TB prevention program, limited public awareness of TB; changes in the district health model affecting program activities; changes in grassroots staff, concurrent positions, and uneven qualifications; complicated developments of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB patients; limited screening and INH prophylaxis activities in children...

Performance targets set for 2019: Sputum testing rate/population: 1%; tuberculosis of all types: 2,330 patients. Number of tuberculosis patients with bacteriological evidence: 1,140; successful treatment over 90%; treatment dropout rate under 0.6%.

At the same time, delegates also proposed solutions to improve the effectiveness of tuberculosis prevention and control in the coming time, focusing onKey tasks: Continue to strengthen the anti-tuberculosis network, improve operational efficiency at all levels; promote disease detection and diagnosis, increase the rate of sputum testing/population; effectively implement patient recruitment, treatment management and HIV screening and testing consultation for tuberculosis patients; strengthen propaganda to raise awareness among all people about the disease, fight stigma, and the benefits of early access to health screening services.

Awarding Certificates of Merit from the Department of Health to collectives with outstanding achievements in tuberculosis prevention and control. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

On this occasion, 6 collectives and 7 individuals with outstanding achievements in tuberculosis prevention and control in 2018 were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Department of Health./.