Implementing the Public-Private Health Cooperation Project to Prevent Tuberculosis

(Baonghean) - On the morning of December 16, in Nghi Loc district, the Steering Committee for Tuberculosis Prevention of Nghe An province launched a project to coordinate public-private health care to prevent tuberculosis.

In Nghe An, it is estimated that there are currently 3,000 new pulmonary tuberculosis patients with tuberculosis bacteria found. The rate of people infected with tuberculosis is up to 1.7% of the population, of which only 0.05% of people have their sputum tested, so the rate of detected tuberculosis infection is still very low compared to the reality in the community. In order to ensure widespread access for people to tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment services, the Public-Private Health Cooperation Project for Tuberculosis Prevention has been implemented in 6 districts, cities and towns, including: Vinh City, Cua Lo, Dien Chau, Yen Thanh, Quynh Luu, Nghi Loc.

The objective of the Project is to establish and implement a referral system for suspected TB patients from the private health sector and non-TB public health units to TB control units in Nghe An. At the conference, delegates were introduced by officials from the Department of Health about the TB situation in Vietnam in general and Nghe An province in particular, the public-private health coordination strategy in the TB control program, public-private health coordination activities in TB control in Nghe An, and the referral process for suspected TB patients.

Ngoc Mai