Effective control of tuberculosis

Over the years, the health sector, from the provincial to the grassroots level, has implemented comprehensive solutions in tuberculosis prevention and control, applying modern techniques to improve the effectiveness of detection, treatment, and management of the disease. This has contributed to better control of the source of infection in the community.

Treatment effectiveness is consistently high.

Medical staff at Khanh Hoa Lung Hospital are examining tuberculosis bacteria under a microscope.

One of the highlights of tuberculosis prevention and control in Khanh Hoa is the consistently high effectiveness of treatment. Specifically: the quality of treatment and patient management has improved; the success rate of treating all forms of tuberculosis reached 90.4%, exceeding the national tuberculosis control program's target by 0.4%; the tuberculosis mortality rate has also decreased to 2.8/100,000 people; and the dropout rate remains low (5.5%). In addition, the province's tuberculosis prevention and control program has screened nearly 95,000 people for tuberculosis and admitted and treated nearly 2,520 patients with all forms of tuberculosis.

Dr. Huynh Minh Tam, Director of Khanh Hoa Lung Hospital, said: “The application of scientific and technological advancements contributes to improving the effectiveness of tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment. The entire province has equipped 9 Gene Xpert molecular biological testing systems, allowing for rapid detection of tuberculosis bacteria and drug resistance; 100% of suspected tuberculosis patients have access to this technique. In addition, the Gene Xpert XDR test, aimed at early detection of highly drug-resistant tuberculosis cases, has also been implemented.”

On the other hand, the short-term BPaL regimen (6 to 9 months) is applied to patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis, contributing to shortening treatment time, reducing costs, and improving patient adherence. Communication efforts are emphasized through various forms; proactive screening activities in the community are strengthened. By 2025, the entire province will screen nearly 11,200 people, detecting over 1,000 cases of tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis. Screening campaigns focus on high-risk groups such as: people living in social welfare facilities, prisons, drug rehabilitation centers, etc., contributing to early detection of infection sources and timely management and treatment.

Thanks to the coordinated implementation of various solutions, public awareness of tuberculosis has been raised, stigma has been reduced, and the rate of patients proactively seeking medical attention has increased.

Towards the elimination of tuberculosis

Doctors at Khanh Hoa Lung Hospital are checking the health of a tuberculosis patient.

Despite the achievements, the province's tuberculosis prevention and control efforts still face numerous challenges. Fear and stigma surrounding tuberculosis persist in the community, preventing many from proactively seeking medical attention, leading to late detection or abandonment of treatment. Furthermore, communication activities are not consistently maintained; coordination between public and private healthcare systems in detecting and managing tuberculosis patients remains limited; some equipment is not being utilized to its full capacity due to a shortage of highly skilled personnel; and the mechanism for reimbursing tuberculosis medication through health insurance at the grassroots level still faces many obstacles…

It is understood that in the coming period, the provincial health sector will continue to strengthen the tuberculosis prevention and control network; enhance human resource training, and promote the application of new technologies in diagnosis and treatment. At the same time, it will expand regular communication activities in the community, especially in high-risk areas, to raise awareness and change people's behavior. In addition, it will strengthen inter-sectoral coordination, especially with private medical facilities, to detect and effectively manage tuberculosis patients early. The health sector aims to improve the quality of treatment, promote tuberculosis screening programs in the community, reduce treatment dropout rates, and gradually control and eliminate tuberculosis in the province by 2030.

C.DAN

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/y-te-suc-khoe/202603/kiem-soat-hieu-qua-benh-lao-77a439d/