Tuberculosis during the war: where are the most sick

Photo: magicmine/DEPOSITPHOTOS

Odesa, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Zakarpattia and Volyn regions have the highest rates of tuberculosis in Ukraine.

About this reported the head of the tuberculosis control and prevention department of the Center for Public Health, Yana Terleeva, during a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform.

It is drug-resistant (multi-resistant) tuberculosis that is spreading in Ukraine – that which does not respond to standard methods of treatment.

“I would like to emphasize that now in the conditions of a full-scale war, prolonged stress, prolonged stay in basements, impoverishment of the population, as well as the economic condition in which our country is, we once again draw attention to the fact that, in general, our country belongs to countries with a high level of morbidity among the European region.

A characteristic feature is the spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis in our country”– said the representative of the CGZ.

Yana Terleeva noted that all regional anti-tuberculosis centers are involved in innovative treatment. At the same time, not all Ukrainians know that this disease is curable.

“We see a treatment efficiency of 89%, which is a very good indicator. But a significant number of patients are in a neglected form and it is much more difficult to provide them with help. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that these people did not seek medical help during COVID-19, and on the other hand – with a late appeal due to wartime restrictions.

According to the Ministry of Health, about 20% of the population in the front-line, de-occupied territories have limited access to medical care. – says Terleeva.

To detect and treat tuberculosis, various technologies are used in Ukraine, in particular, mobile clinics.

According to Terleeva, in 2023, the average duration of treatment was 6 days from the moment the disease was detected.

“This is quite a good indicator, taking into account the number of alarms, logistical limitations. But we want to shorten this period even more, so that the disease can be detected as quickly as possible and the person receives treatment immediately after the appearance of symptoms, in order to interrupt the further transmission of tuberculosis.”the official added.

In general, the incidence of tuberculosis in the world has increased by 4% over the past year, and this, in particular, was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, added the Deputy Minister of Health, the Chief State Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin.

In 2023, about 20,000 cases of tuberculosis were registered in Ukraine, 640 of them among children.

“Ukraine was among the leaders in terms of new cases of tuberculosis, and not only susceptible, but also multi-resistant. Multi-resistant tuberculosis. For Ukraine, this problem is even more urgent, because there are certain difficulties with a security questionit is not always possible to launch a full range of preventive programs”– said Cousin.

At the same time, Ukraine has been working according to WHO protocols for several years and uses European practices, the health doctor assured.

According to him, thanks to innovative drugs, patients with multi-resistant tuberculosis can be cured in 6-9 months (previously – 18-24 months).

The Ministry of Health once again urged to seek medical help as soon as possible if you notice the symptoms of tuberculosis.