“We have gathered here to find solutions to the important problem, since only together we can work on the issues of reducing the incidence of TB in the region”, said Ms. Sitara Syed, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in Uzbekistan on the World TB Day Forum held in Nukus city, Karakalpakstan in partnership with governmental, regional and international organizations on March 24, 2011. 

Today forces of the following international organizations are directed for TB control in Karakalpakstan: UNDP, WHO, MSF, Global Fund, International Red Cross, and Red Crescent Society. In Takhtakupir and Karauzyak districts activities on opening a new project of DOTS +, which aims to assist in the treatment of resistant forms of TB is completed. The project is expanding to Kegeily, Nukus, Khodjeily Districts and Takhyatash City.

However, despite the complex ongoing large-scale TB control activities, the epidemiological situation in general remains tense, was noted on the Forum, attended by the representatives of the local government and several international organizations, as well as healthcare workers, UNV community volunteers, students and media workers.

Two guests from UNV Headquarter in Bonn (Germany), Mr. Ghulam Isaczai-UNV Director of Programmes and Ms. Olga Devyatkin - UNV Portfolio Manager for Europe and CIS also were invited to the Forum. In his interview to local press before the Forum, Mr. Ghulam Isaczai mentioned: “Close and effective cooperation among local and international organizations in addressing TB will give fruit in the future.” He also emphasized that UNV wants to promote volunteerism in the region.

The Forum was opened by Mr. Nurullan Erlepesov, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Karakalpakstan, who on behalf of the Government of the Republic thanked the donor organizations for their contribution to the fight against TB. He noted that the country had taken specific measures to diagnose and treat the dangerous disease.

The forum continued with speeches and presentations by Ms. Sitara Syed, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative, Dr. Tsogt G., WHO Medical Officer TB Control Programme in Central Asian Countries, Ms. Dilrabo Ulmasova, Director of Republic DOTS Center, Mr. Alexander Telnov, MSF - Holland Medical Coordinator in Uzbekistan, and Mr. Bakhadur Paluaniyazov, UNDP Area Based Development Project Manager. They highlighted that in Uzbekistan, including Karakalpakstan, considerable results were obtained in decreasing TB.

Also, it was announced that the following measures are included as part of drug-resistant TB treatment: an individualized treatment after receiving all the results of sensitivity, ensure infection control measures, psychosocial support to promote adherence to treatment, as well as treatment of side effects. Expected results of implementing the government program to fight tuberculosis (2010-2015) are improving the detection of TB up to 70%, decreasing the incidence of TB to 50 per 100,000 people, as well as improving the treatment results up to 85%.

Today in the region, in addition to the WHO, MSF and other international organizations, the UNDP/UNV Project “Empowering Communities through Local Volunteerism to address Poverty and Tuberculosis in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan” continues to be successfully implementing a unique approach to volunteer based TB eradication education. Currently 2,500 community volunteers (the project is being realized in five districts of the region) are currently involved in spreading health education information on TB. The project has conducted over 60 seminars attended by more than 1,200 students of secondary schools, lyceums and colleges of the project districts. Besides that, over 60 primary healthcare units were provided with necessary equipment to date, which will provide more than 240,000 community members access to quality medical service.

The aim of the project implemented by UNDP and UNV is designing and establishing a community-based TB care system to combat tuberculosis, raising awareness on TB and fostering non-discriminatory attitudes in the community through the provision of information materials and workshops, while simultaneously addressing the link between TB and poverty in five districts of the republic.

This innovative approach being pioneered as part of the project “Empowering Communities through Local Volunteerism to address Poverty and Tuberculosis in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan”, was based on experiences of a previous project "Enhancement of living standards in Karakalpakstan”, financed by the European Union, which in 2005-2006 first tested social mobilization as a tool for identifying TB. Thanks to the efforts of UNDP and UNV, the project is heavily involved in health education and community health advocacy using the power volunteerism. As an important driving force and successful component in the overall fight against tuberculosis the volunteer was recently extended under funding from the United Nations Human Security Trust Fund.