UNDP doubles efforts to eradicate tuberculosis despite COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 has greatly hampered tuberculosis control programs in Kyrgyzstan, which is among the 30 countries with a high burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (LU-TB). The number of reported cases of tuberculosis in 2020 decreased by 30% (3,814 from January to September 2020, compared with 5,361 in the same period in 2019), which, according to scientific forecasts, will lead to additional deaths.

UNDP, within the framework of its project "Effective control of HIV and tuberculosis in the Kyrgyz Republic", funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, has redoubled efforts to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis control programs and their beneficiaries.

"The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has helped UNDP support the health system and tuberculosis control services in Kyrgyzstan by offering flexible support and substantial additional funding. Our UNDP HIV and TUBERCULOSIS team has gone beyond the call of duty to support tuberculosis and HIV programs, supporting the timely delivery of vital medicines and medical equipment despite global shortages, inventory shortages, border closures and many exceptionally difficult logistical challenges," said Louise Chamberlain, UNDP Resident Representative in Kyrgyzstan, in his statement on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day.

Throughout the pandemic, TB hospitals and health workers were mobilized to fight COVID-19. UNDP, with financial support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, as part of its COVID-19 rapid response mechanism, together with national partners, turned to alternative resources to ensure uninterrupted care for tuberculosis patients. This included the involvement of additional case managers for TB patients, treatment under video surveillance, mobile teams and the provision of psychological support to both patients and medical workers. In addition, it includes the provision of medical equipment and tests for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, the construction of 17 isolation wards in Osh and Naryn hospitals for patients with tuberculosis and COVID-19, the distribution of food packages to patients in need, and the organization of 14-day observation for health workers from TB services working in COVID-red zones.19.

This year there were not only failures. The National Phthisiology Program has also made significant progress in this crisis year. Thanks to the continuous support of the UNDP to the National Center of Phthisiology in the field of coordination, capacity development, monitoring and advocacy, the proportion of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis tested for sensitivity to second-line drugs increased to 77% in 2020 (against 66% in 2019 and 52% in 2018), which allows doctors to prescribe the most effective treatment to your patients, which gives them the best chance of recovery. The sputum sample transportation services funded by the UNDP/GF project were interrupted for only one week during the state of emergency, just for the time needed to obtain the necessary permits. The constant efforts of the project team have helped to guarantee the timely delivery of anti-tuberculosis drugs, despite the global shortage, obstacles to procurement and closed borders.

In 2020, more than 1,000 patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis received monthly motivational payments from the UNDP/Global Fund project, of which 890 received individual assistance, which made it possible to convince 84 patients not to interrupt treatment and return 14 patients to treatment or under medical supervision. An increase in financial support for active case detection has made it possible to identify 108 more cases of tuberculosis. Computed tomography, funded by the project, also helped diagnose tuberculosis in 51 children.

And this year again, "time is running out" in the fight against tuberculosis. Tuberculosis must remain a priority despite the COVID-19 pandemic; moreover, tuberculosis requires even more attention and more funding than before. For World Tuberculosis Day 2021, the UNDP/Global Fund project is contributing to the national awareness campaign by distributing brochures, hanging banners and organizing television programs dedicated to tuberculosis.

In recent years, significant progress has been achieved in Kyrgyzstan, including the introduction of new, more effective drugs for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis, bringing laboratories and treatment protocols in line with international standards, as well as a significant increase in the success rate of treatment of XDR-TB patients (from 15.2% among XDR-TB patients who started treatment in 2016, up to 52% among patients admitted for treatment in 2018). Now it is extremely important to preserve these successes from further failures and multiply efforts to eradicate tuberculosis by 2030.