| Improving living standards by fighting TB |
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| Tuesday, 23 December 2008 12:34 |
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Despite the fact that Tuberculosis (TB) is
a curable and preventable disease, it is still infecting and killing
millions of people throughout the world.
The causes for tuberculosis
are diverse. There is an agreement, however, that tuberculosis is a
disease connected with people’s low economic status, lack of
information and stigma. Tuberculosis affects living standards as people
who have the diseases often cannot work and cannot afford drugs and
treatment. Health and wealth, as everyone knows are connected. Without
one the other is often not possible. As indicated in the Welfare
Improvement Strategy Paper of the Republic of Uzbekistan, treatment and
prevention of TB is crucial to improve people’s living standards and is
one of the priorities of the national health policy of Uzbekistan. Issues concerning TB treatment and
prevention are one of the focus areas of the EU/UNDP project
"Enhancement of Living Standards in Karakalpakstan" (ELS). The ELS
project, already in its second year of implementation, supports
communities in the districts of Shumanay, Karauzyak and Kegeliy to
identify the main problems of their communities and find appropriate
solutions. Some communities have identified tuberculosis as one of main
factors impinging on their socioeconomic development. With the help of
the ELS project communities are now working together on projects that
rehabilitate primary healthcare centres for an improved access to care
and better health. By making it possible for communities to join
together and put up a brave fight against tuberculosis, the ELS helps
communities to improve their living standards. The ELS project in Karakalpakstan
has conducted a needs assessment on determining the magnitude of the
existing TB cases in 11 communities of the 3 project districts. The
results of the assessment are the basis for a local strategy that
focuses on community contribution to their living standards through TB
care and management. The strategy will focus on three main areas:
provide improved access to quality health care, create awareness on the
disease and combat stigma that often prevent people from seeking the
right treatment at the right time. For the purpose of generating
debate and coordination at regional level, the ELS in Nukus organised a
round-table on community development and TB with the participation of
community leaders, representatives of Mahalla Fund, the Farmer
Association, the Health Institute in Nukus, and doctors from TB
dispensaries in Nukus. The participants discussed the methodology and
outcomes of the needs assessment conducted by the ELS project. They noted that cooperation among
all development actors, people’s involvement, knowledge of the
communities diverse needs and shared solutions are key for improving
living standards in a way that communities can feel, touch and see. For more information, please see additional resources |
News and Events Improving living standards by fighting TB