USAID and its partners commemorate World Tuberculosis Day 

PAS No 234
March 24, 2009

Ashgabat, March 24, 2009 – Today the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) joined the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan (MOHMIT) and international partners to mark World Tuberculosis (TB) Day at the Conference organized by the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan at the Treatment and Consulting Center named after Saparmurat Niyazov.  The global theme for World TB Day this year is “I am stopping TB,” which seeks to recognize the people who are fighting this disease.  World TB Day celebrates the lives and stories of people affected by TB and those who are working to stop its spread.

“On this day, I am pleased to say that the United States is on the frontlines of the battle against TB around the world," said U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Richard Miles at the opening of the Conference.  Chargé Miles also noted that in 2007, USAID and MOHMIT successfully extended the TB Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course (DOTS) program to 100% of Turkmenistan, adding that  “This is a significant accomplishment that all of you should be proud of.”

USAID has also assisted in the renovation and equipping of the TB training center at the Turkmenistan State Medical Institute, established an electronic library at the Central TB Hospital in Ashgabat, and developed a medical school curriculum that includes new TB DOTS treatment approaches.

In Turkmenistan, USAID has been working to prevent the spread of TB since 2000.  USAID’s efforts focus on the cities of Ashgabat and Mary, as well as the entire Balkan province.  USAID and its implementing partner, Project HOPE train medical specialists, provide laboratory equipment and first-line TB medicines, and cooperate with local activists to raise community awareness about TB.  TB claims more than 1.6 million lives each year and is one of the three leading causes of deaths due to infectious diseases worldwide.