Medical workers at a grassroots health facility perform on-site rapid tests and GeneXpert tests to detect TB and drug-resistant TB. (Photo: Vietnam+) Hanoi (VNA) - Since November 2022 in Vietnam, simultaneous screening has been implemented for respiratory diseases including tuberculosis (TB), COVID-19, influenza A, B, syncytial virus and group-A streptococcus.
Within 6 months of implementation, 22,604 people were screened for TB, COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. Of those, 3,776 people were screened for TB, with 78 cases of conventional TB detected and 3 cases of drug-resistant TB. This number is many times higher than the number of cases detected in Ung Hoa and Phuc Tho districts in Hanoi in 2021 and 2022.
Screening examination proves efficiency
Associate Professor Nguyen Binh Hoa - Deputy Director of the Central Lung Hospital, Deputy Head of the Executive Board of the National Tuberculosis Program said that in Vietnam, simultaneous screening tests for tuberculosis, COVID-19, influenza A, B, syncytial virus, and group A streptococcus have been implemented since November 11.
By the end of June 6, the results showed that the TB detection rate compared to the same period last year reached a high level. In Ung Hoa district, the number of TB cases detected was 23 times higher, while in Phuc Tho district, it was about 2.6 times.
Associate Professor Nguyen Binh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Central Lung Hospital, Deputy Head of the Executive Board of the National Tuberculosis Program (Photo: Vietnam+) A representative of the coordination group said that the project was implemented in Ung Hoa and Phuc Tho districts (Hanoi) with 57 participating health facilities, covering 55 communes, with a population of about 524,000 people.
Those who have symptoms of TB or are in the risk group for TB infection have their sputum sample taken at the commune health facility. The sample is then sent to a district health facility where the GeneXpert method is performed to detect tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
Notably, general tuberculosis cases then are treated right at the district health center, making it convenient for patients, while drug-resistant TB cases are transferred to Hanoi Lung Hospital.
Capacity building for grassroots healthcare
The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the importance of maintaining TB prevention and care throughout the pandemic saying that two-way screening for TB and COVID-19 is of great significance.
Screening activities for tuberculosis (TB), COVID-19, influenza A, B, syncytial virus, and group-A streptococcus have been implemented at grassroots health facilities. (Photo: Vietnam+) Dr. Nguyen Thi Van Anh - Head of the FIND Office in Vietnam, a global non-profit connecting countries, funders, healthcare providers and developers, said the National TB Program and FIND coordinated to implement a project on screening for TB, COVID-19 and respiratory diseases in the primary healthcare system in Vietnam from September 9 to June 2022.
The project aims to improve the capacity of the grassroots-level medical staff in performing multi-agent testing for COVID-19, tuberculosis and common respiratory infections, as well as evaluating the impact of this test model at grassroots health facilities./.
