DUSHANBE, March 19, Asia-Plus - One-third of Tajikistan’s population now has the TB bacterium in their bodies, but not everyone who is infected develops the disease and asymptomatic latent TB infection is most common, Doctor of Sciences in Medicine, Professor Umrinisso Sirojiddinova, remarked at a briefing at the republican tuberculosis-treatment hospital in Dushanbe on March 16.  

She noted that TB can be cured and controlled.  “Some 700 patients currently undergo treatment for tuberculosis in the hospital,” Sirojiddinova said, noting that their facility has the best well-equipped testing lab in the country.  

“Since December 2002, the Global TB Drug Facility (GDF) has provided our hospital with medicines as part of Directly Observed Training Short Course, or DOTS, strategy,” professor said.  

Besides Germany’s KfW Entwicklungsbank (KfW development bank) has provided 1.6 million euros for renovating one of buildings of the hospital and providing the hospital with medical equipment, according to her.    

She noted that the government has also provided assistance to the hospital.  According to her, the budget provides 3.80 somonis per patient per day. 

On the general TB situation in the country, she expressed regret that people usually apply for medical advice only when they already have chronic forms of the disease.  “Last year, 23 patients died in our hospital,” professor noted.   She noted that the civil war of 1992-1997, economic crisis and labor migration have been among the main factors contributing to increase in the disease rate in the country.