VOA常速英语:Fighting TB in Uzbekistan

The United States is committed to helping partner countries stop the spread of Tuberculosis, or TB, and eventually eliminate this scourge.

In late May, Uzbekistan held a three day national conference exploring how to use science and technology to fight TB. Healthcare providers and laboratory specialists were invited to attend seminars and sessions led by prominent TB experts from around the world.

This conference was sponsored by the United States through the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, in partnership with the Republic of Uzbekistan Ministry of Health, and the Uzbekistan Center for Tuberculosis and Pulmonology.

One of many TB control initiatives supported by USAID in Uzbekistan, the conference provided a forum for over 100 health professionals to share knowledge and experience and discuss successes and lessons learned from implementing the World Health Organization's ‘End TB Strategy' in Uzbekistan.

Adopted in 2014, the strategy aims to end the global TB epidemic by reducing TB deaths by 95% and reducing new cases by 90% between 2015 and 2035. It also aims to ensure that no family is burdened with catastrophic expenses as a result of TB.

To reach these ambitious goals, the World Health Organization, or WHO, has outlined three strategic pillars that include putting patients at the heart of service delivery; engaging governments and communities for bold policy change; and intensifying TB related research and innovation.

The theme of this year's national conference, Science and Innovative Technologies in the Implementation of the End TB Strategy in Uzbekistan, reflects a growing commitment of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Health and the Center for Tuberculosis and Pulmonology to reduce the burden of TB through innovative technologies.

Conference participants agreed to develop recommendations to build partnerships between medical and non-medical service providers and civil society, in order to provide patient-centered TB care based on innovative technology.

For nearly two decades, USAID has been providing assistance to Uzbekistan for TB control. In partnership with the Government of Uzbekistan, USAID's current five-year, 20 million dollar TB Control Program aims to reduce the burden of TB in Uzbekistan, and prevent multidrug-resistant forms of the disease in the country.

The program has been instrumental in introducing innovative evidence-based and patient-centered approaches to TB prevention, diagnostics, and treatment.

The U.S. is proud to partner with Uzbekistan to help fight the age-old and still deadly threat of tuberculosis.