Government, community and charity united to fight against tuberculosis

On the 15th of March in the Kherson Regional State Administration the conference of the working group on TB in Kherson and Kherson region the aim of which was to support the Regional Tuberculosis Clinic was held. Kherson region still is considered to be a region with the highest estimated incidence rate of TB in Ukraine. Effective methods are needed to solve the problem. According to Ministry of Health of Ukraine 1 July, 2009 an estimated 89 190 people had active TB disease, among them - 820 children under 14 years old and 733 teenagers 15-17 years old. In Kherson region 3189 people have been infected with TB disease, among them - 26 children and 26 teenagers. In the first six month at 100 thousand people 32 per cent had active TB disease. The lowest number of cases of tuberculosis is in Kiev (18, 6%) and the highest - in Kherson region (56, 4%). The situation in the rural areas is much worse than in urban territories. The cases of tuberculosis among the children under 14 are increased: in Kherson region - by 1, 7 per cent, and by 2, 2 per cent all over the country. The relapses of all forms of tuberculosis - 2947 persons (in the last year during the same period - 2966), in Kherson region- 108 persons (86 persons accordingly). According to preliminary figures 4 629 persons died (14, 2 per cent less than in the first six month of 2008). In Kherson region - 141. More pleasant results - 1152 persons were cured of TB disease in 2009. Vladimir Nikolayevich Buryatinskiy, the head physician of the Regional Tuberculosis Clinic, who was present at the conference, applied to all regional public organizations for aid (informational, technical and other kinds of aid) to Tuberculosis Clinic. According to his words, funds, allocated by government into this sphere, are only for food, treatment and electricity, other problems (purchasing of necessary equipment, improving of monetary basis of the clinic) are for charity organizations. The following public and charity organizations were present at the event: "Zahyst", "Mangust", "Lastochka", Regional Student Council, Ustin Maltsev Charitable foundation, Center for the development of civil society, the Association for promotion of self-organization of the population.
The representatives of the organizations advanced their ideas: to create social video, to hold conferences, training courses, to organize event that aims to raise funds etc. We have a great hope that most of the projects will be realized in our city and region and that Kherson will not be the region with the highest estimated incidence rate of TB any more.