The WHO regional Stop Tuberculosis (TB) programme works with the national TB control programme of the Ministry of Health to strengthen and consolidate the provision of comprehensive TB care in the country.
The national tuberculosis programme started implementing the WHO recommended Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) strategy in 1998. The programme managed to achieve the regional targets of nationwide coverage of the strategy in 2000. In 2008, 871 cases (621 nationals, 250 foreigners) of TB were notified in public facilities working under the DOTS strategy. The DOTS treatment success rate was 63.5% in 2007.
The national strategy to fight tuberculosis has three main goals including the implementation of the DOTS strategy according to WHO guidelines, revision and updating of the medical faculties’ curricula, and improvement of tuberculosis laboratories by establishment of a multiple drug resistance laboratory and use of advanced techniques in diagnosis.
Related links
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
