The United States announced Wednesday that it will be providing the Uzbekistan Ministry of Health with state of the art medical equipment for the rapid diagnosis of Tuberculosis (TB). The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Central Asia Deputy Regional Mission Director Sara Walter and World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Uzbekistan Dr. Lianne Kuppens joined Uzbek Ministry of Health First Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Baxodir Yusupaliyev at a Ceremony in the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Phthisiology and Pulmonology to announce the donation.
The United States will be providing four Xpert MTB/Rif rapid TB testing machines, easy to use equipment that lets healthcare providers diagnose TB in two hours instead of the customary eight weeks. Timely diagnosis of TB allows health facilities to start treatment right away, increasing a patient’s chances of a full recovery and helping to stop the spread of the disease.
“The United States has been a leader in developing cutting-edge medical technology, and we are very pleased to be facilitating the delivery of this equipment as part of our long-standing commitment to helping Uzbekistan improve the health and well-being of its citizens,” said Walter.
The purchase of TB detection equipment and testing cartridges was supported by USAID through its Challenge TB Project, implemented in Uzbekistan in partnership with the World Health Organization and KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation. There are currently 27 Xpert MTB/Rif machines in use in Uzbekistan, including four donated by USAID in 2014.
