CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS MARKED IN THE REPUBLIC IN FIGHTING AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS

d/595761/lang/en
2010-03-24

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS: A considerable progress has been marked
in the recent years in the republic in fighting against tuberculosis,
Deputy Healthcare Minister of Armenia Alexander Ghukasyan said
today at a discussion dedicated to the National Day of Fighting
against Tuberculosis held in the National Office of Fighting against
Tuberculosis.

The fighting against that decease in Armenia is implemented within
the frameworks of the 2007-2015 national program on fighting against
tuberculosis conformed by the decision of the Armenian government. The
Healthcare Ministry closely cooperates with a number of international
and local organizations, particularly with World Health Organization,
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), French "Doctors
without Boundaries" and German "GOPA-Epos" institutions.

According to A. Ghukasyan, as a result of the national program on
fighting against tuberculosis, all the institutions connected with
anti-tuberculosis activity, are ensured with medicine and relevant
laboratory equipments. There are cabinets of fighting against
tuberculosis in the territorial polyclinics of Yerevan and in all the
Armenian provinces, subordinated to which there are phlegm-gathering
points.

A microscopic examination of phlegm, roentgen-fluorography researches
are organized by specialists, as a result of which the revealed
infectious patients are sent to specialized establishments, and the
treatment of the types of deceases which present no risk is organized
in ambulatory conditions.

Two thousand and six new cases of tuberculosis were revealed in 2005,
and in 2009 – 1474 cases. If in 2005 the overall number of patients
suffering from tuberculosis was 6 455, in 2009 that number was 3 446.

In 2005, 167 people suffering from tuberculosis died, and in 2009 –
127 people.

Head of the National Office of Fighting against Tuberculosis Narine
Mezhlumyan noted that the revelation of such patients in Armenia,
the treatment and the further control are implemented within the
frameworks of state order, free of charge.

"If the treatment is organized in the right time and in a right
way, tuberculosis will be completely cured. From that viewpoint the
enhancement of competence level is of great importance. Everyone must
understand that in case of not receiving a treatment not only that
person but also the surrounding people are threatened with danger,"
N. Mezhlumyan said.

According to her, any person with tuberculosis can infect 10-15
people in a year in case of not receiving a treatment. Nine million
people throughout the world are annually infected with that decease,
two million of who dies. The major part of patients with tuberculosis
are registered in China and India.