22.07.2019

Severodvinsk - a City Free from Tuberculosis

In 2014, the Global Strategy to End Tuberculosis was adopted at the Assembly of the World Health Organization. For 20 years (from 2015 to 2035), it is thought to achieve a 95% reduction in tuberculosis mortality and a 90% reduction in the number of new cases. Special attention is paid to population groups with increased vulnerability to tuberculosis infection, as well as to groups with limited access to health care. To achieve these goals, many service need to work together: healthcare, social protection, non - governmental organizations and the world communitiy as a whole.

Russia, like other countries, has launched the Global Strategy “Eliminate Tuberculosis”. In recent years, there has been a tendency to lower morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis.

Sustainable improvement of these indicators is observed both in the North-Western Federal Okrug and in the Arkhangelsk Oblast.

 Severodvinsk is the second largest city in the Arkhangelsk Oblast. It is a major industrial center. The city is provided well with quality medical care.

TB care to residents of Severodvinsk is provided by the TB department, which is a part of the 1st city hospital of Severodvinsk. This department works closely with the Arkhangelsk Clinical TB Dispensary, which is the main center for the implementation of the global strategy “Eliminate Tuberculosis” in our area. 

Epidemiological indicators in Severodvinsk, as in the Arkhangelsk oblast and in Russia as a whole, have improved in recent years. 

"Severodvinsk - A City Free From Tuberculosis" is a pilot initiative new for the region. The project is designed for three years - from 2019 to 2022.

 

 During 2019-2020, it is planned to implement the following components:

 

1. Detection of latent tuberculosis infection in high-risk groups 

2. Conducting preventive treatment of latent tuberculosis infection 

3. Expansion of patient-oriented technologies: (outpatient treatment with the use of digital health elements, home-based treatment, provision of individualized social support to patients during the outpatient period of treatment)

4. Continuous competence strengthening of health workers in diagnostics and modern approaches to tuberculosis treatment and prevention

The project has started already. Its main goal - to eliminate morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis among residents of the city. Not only physicians of Severodvinsk take part in implementation of the project, but also other departments and services of the city.

The project is based on the practices to detect latent tuberculosis infection in “high-risk groups” - people who got into a difficult life situation due to the loss of jobs, the homeless, TB contacts (family, territorial — living in one apartment or in private house, as well as work contacts), people living with HIV.

 This population is being invited to an additional examination for detection of latent tuberculosis infection in the TB department of Severodvinsk City Hospital No. 1, daily from Monday to Friday, address: Severodvinsk, Belomorsky Avenue, 76A, working hours: from 9 to 14 o'clock. 

Those people who have latent tuberculosis infection, need to undergo a course of preventive treatment in order not to fall ill with tuberculosis in the future. Preventive treatment is carried out according to the latest WHO recommendations (reduction of treatment duration) at an outpatient stage, at the same TB department the patients in needcan receive individualized social support.

The project in Severodvinsk will improve the epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in the city and contribute to the WHO goal of eliminating tuberculosis.