Dushanbe, March 17, 2016 - The United States government, through the United States Agency for International Aid (USAID), conducted a national training on tuberculosis (TB) for local journalists of television, radio, and print media March 15 – 17 in Tajikistan.  The three-day training was organized and conducted by the USAID TB Control Program in close collaboration with the National TB Program, the National Centre for Healthy Lifestyle, and the Stop TB Partnership Coalition of Tajikistan.

The agenda allowed fifteen journalists to improve their knowledge of TB by focusing  on developing accurate messages about TB epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and reduction of the stigma commonly associated with TB,.  Participants explored the media’s role in TB prevention including how to promote a more tolerant attitude toward people vulnerable to TB, and how to increase the general public’s knowledge of tuberculosis.

To increase its outreach, the USAID TB Control Program will conduct a regional TB training for media outlets and journalists in the Sughd Region.  Upon the conclusion of this training, the program will announce a contest for the best media coverage of TB issues in Tajikistan.

The USAID TB Control Program is a five-year, $13.2 million program working in Sughd, Khatlon, and Rasht Valley to reduce the burden of TB and the incidence of multi-drug resistant TB in Tajikistan.   USAID is the leading American government agency building social and economic prosperity together with the people of Tajikistan and Central Asia.  Since 1992, USAID has invested over $360 million in programs that support Tajikistan's democratic institutions, health care, education, and economic growth.