Tuberculosis patients who find themselves in a difficult life situation can now use temporary housin
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has opened a temporary stay center (shelter) for people with drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis who are on outpatient treatment and find themselves in a difficult life situation. The center, located in Bishkek and managed by the public organization "TB People", has been operating since March 2021. It provides accommodation, basic household services (meals, showers, laundry), as well as medical, social and psychological support to patients in need to help them complete treatment.
This center is currently the only one of its kind for tuberculosis patients in the Kyrgyz Republic and was opened to help combat the tuberculosis epidemic in Kyrgyzstan and improve favorable treatment outcomes. The Kyrgyz Republic is one of 30 countries with a high burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis, the treatment of which can take up to two years. Tuberculosis can be cured and its further spread prevented if the patient has received timely diagnosis and has completely completed treatment. This center is part of a new country grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for 2021-2023, implemented by UNDP.
"There are people who want to be treated, but they have nowhere to live, and as a result, they cannot get a foothold in some polyclinic, FAP or CSM to receive drugs. This center is a great chance for people with tuberculosis," explains Dilshat Khaitov, Director of TB People. Since its opening, a month ago, the center has already received ten clients: "Among them there are people who have been released from prison; we help them contact their relatives and find a place to stay, and continue treatment at this time. We also had clients who finished treatment here, and they had time to adapt to society, find a job, restore documents.”
The center does everything possible so that its clients can get back on their feet and find decent living conditions in the future to preserve their health. The center's clients also receive support from doctors, treatment assistants, peer counselors, psychologists and lawyers who work together to help each client complete treatment and limit the spread of tuberculosis in the country.
In addition, the center has a room to accommodate mothers with children who come to the capital for computed tomography (CT), funded by the UNDP/Global Fund project for the Early Detection of Tuberculosis in Children.
The UNDP project "Effective control of HIV and TB in the Kyrgyz Republic" also continues to fund two shelters for people living with HIV in Bishkek and Osh, and also supports centers for key populations at increased risk of HIV infection.