Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, officially launched its new five-year tuberculosis (TB) program that will provide targeted investments to further reduce the burden of tuberculosis on Uzbekistanis. The First Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Bakhodir Yusupaliev; U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Uzbekistan, Daniel N. Rosenblum; and the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Uzbekistan Dr. Lianne Kuppens participated in the event.
Uzbekistan has made great strides in reducing TB cases and TB deaths, thanks in part to the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Health (MOH), the U.S. government, and international partners. However, multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) continues to be a significant issue in Uzbekistan. According to Uzbekistan’s MOH, in 2019, 8 percent of all new TB cases were resistant to two of the most powerful first-line TB drugs. Under USAID’s Global Accelerator to End TB, the U.S. government is supporting innovative, cost-effective ways to contribute to the efforts of the National TB Program to combat MDR-TB in Uzbekistan. In coordination with the Uzbekistan Ministry of Health, USAID has launched four new projects that will provide technical assistance to the Government of Uzbekistan to reduce costs of TB medicines and diagnostic equipment, ensure high-quality TB medicines are available and accessible, and roll out the most recent WHO protocols and recommendations related to MDR-TB diagnosis and treatment.
During the event, U.S. Ambassador Rosenblum stated, “We applaud the Government of Uzbekistan for their outstanding work to support tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis and care in the country. By working together, we can continue to make the changes that will save lives and keep families healthy in Uzbekistan, across this region, and around the world.”
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