Deputy PM highlights Vietnam’s efforts in reducing TB

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on July 26 hosted a reception for Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Global Tuberculosis (TB) Programme.

The Deputy PM recognised the success of the Global TB Programme in activities to erase TB globally. With the support of the programme, the prevention and control of TB in Vietnam has seen progress in terms of technique, technology and implementation, he said.

Each year, Vietnam gives treatment to over 100,000 TB patients. The diagnosis ratio of new TB cases has reached 81 percent, higher than the average ratio of 61 percent across the world, he noted.

As many as 90 percent of TB patients who were diagnosed for the first time were able to completely get rid of the disease, while over 75 percent of the 12,019 multi-drug-resistant TB patients have been treated successfully, far above the world’s average of 52 percent.

Currently, the national programme against TB in Vietnam has succeeded in dealing with all drug-resistant TB types, Deputy PM Dam said, adding that research and experiment activities have targeted the settlement of TB risks in affected communities, which is expected to sharply reduce new TB cases.

According to the Deputy PM, although Vietnam is seen as a model in TB combat, the country still faces many challenges in the work.

Vietnam still ranks 16th in the world in terms of TB patients, and 13th in drug-resistant TB cases.

It is estimated that globally in 2017, there were 126,000 new cases diagnosed, with 13,000 people dying from the disease.

The Vietnamese Government’s national strategy on TB prevention and control underlined the intersectional responsibilities of several sectors and the whole of society, with many resources having been given to the work.

Vietnam has supported and engaged in the WHO initiative of “Find, Treat, Cure TB”, launched by the WHO and the TB Alliance, with the aim of screening and treating as many TB patients as possible in order to end the transmission sources, and thus eliminate the disease.

Hailing Vietnam’s achievements in fighting TB, Kasaeva said that Vietnam is one of the leading countries in implementing strategies to end TB, paving the way for other countries in West Pacific region, and the world, in the field.

The Global TB Programme commits to strongly supporting and cooperating with Vietnam in efforts to erase TB as a preventable and curable disease, she stated. –VNA