Bishkek– In honor of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will join international and local partners in supporting the Kyrgyz Republic Ministry of Health’s efforts to raise awareness and understanding of TB. On March 22, 2013 at Victory Square, representatives from the U.S. Embassy and students from Bishkek universities will take part in a run. The event will kick off with a welcome speech from a representative of the Ministry of Health at 12:00 noon. 

World TB Day (March 24) aims to build public awareness of TB, which continues to be a global epidemic. According to the Kyrgyz Republic National TB Center, the country has 102.9 registered TB cases per 100,000 people. In 2012 alone, 6.578 new cases were registered, of which 904 cases were multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). The rise of MDR-TB in the Kyrgyz Republic is of great concern. 

USAID is working to improve TB diagnosis and treatment in the Kyrgyz Republic through the provision of technical support to update clinical guidelines, improve laboratory capacity, and introduce new diagnostic technologies. It is also helping to address infection control, improve the management of the country’s supply of TB drugs, improve the capacity of primary health care and TB hospitals, and improve the population’s understanding of the disease.  As a contributor to the Global Fund, the U.S. government is a major donor of TB drugs to the country. 

The run at Victory Square is just one of many events USAID is supporting throughout the Kyrgyz Republic in honor of World TB Day. On March 22, at 11:00 a.m. the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, and the National TB Center will hold a press conference at the 24 KG News Agency devoted to sharing factual information about TB. 

Other events sponsored by USAID and international partners in March include journalism, dance, public awareness, and art contests; a performance for school children in Bishkek; a press tour to share TB prevention and treatment activities at work at USAID’s Issyk-Ata Rayon pilot site; a community action for health campaign; and health fairs targeted at the most at-risk populations in Bishkek as well as the Chui and Osh provinces.

This is one of the many assistance programs supported by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). For more information about USAID programs, please visit our web site at http://centralasia.usaid.gov/Bishkek– In honor of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will join international and local partners in supporting the Kyrgyz Republic Ministry of Health’s efforts to raise awareness and understanding of TB. On March 22, 2013 at Victory Square, representatives from the U.S. Embassy and students from Bishkek universities will take part in a run. The event will kick off with a welcome speech from a representative of the Ministry of Health at 12:00 noon. 

World TB Day (March 24) aims to build public awareness of TB, which continues to be a global epidemic. According to the Kyrgyz Republic National TB Center, the country has 102.9 registered TB cases per 100,000 people. In 2012 alone, 6.578 new cases were registered, of which 904 cases were multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). The rise of MDR-TB in the Kyrgyz Republic is of great concern. 

USAID is working to improve TB diagnosis and treatment in the Kyrgyz Republic through the provision of technical support to update clinical guidelines, improve laboratory capacity, and introduce new diagnostic technologies. It is also helping to address infection control, improve the management of the country’s supply of TB drugs, improve the capacity of primary health care and TB hospitals, and improve the population’s understanding of the disease.  As a contributor to the Global Fund, the U.S. government is a major donor of TB drugs to the country. 

The run at Victory Square is just one of many events USAID is supporting throughout the Kyrgyz Republic in honor of World TB Day. On March 22, at 11:00 a.m. the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, and the National TB Center will hold a press conference at the 24 KG News Agency devoted to sharing factual information about TB. 

Other events sponsored by USAID and international partners in March include journalism, dance, public awareness, and art contests; a performance for school children in Bishkek; a press tour to share TB prevention and treatment activities at work at USAID’s Issyk-Ata Rayon pilot site; a community action for health campaign; and health fairs targeted at the most at-risk populations in Bishkek as well as the Chui and Osh provinces.

This is one of the many assistance programs supported by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). For more information about USAID programs, please visit our web site at http://centralasia.usaid.gov/kyrgyzstan