March is Tuberculosis (TB) Awareness Month and an opportunity to raise awareness about the urgency and importance of fighting this disease. This year, the campaign is being held under the slogan: Yes! We can defeat tuberculosis: take responsibility, invest, implement. This slogan is a call to action that emphasizes three key principles:
- take responsibility — promptly implement the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and strengthen national strategies;
- invest – ensure the implementation of innovations to improve access to prevention, treatment and care for people with TB;
- realize – scale up effective interventions: early detection, prevention and quality treatment of tuberculosis, especially drug-resistant TB, involving communities and civil society and applying an intersectoral approach.
Overcoming tuberculosis is a shared responsibility that requires immediate and decisive action.
Important achievements in combating TB in 2024
Ukraine is implementing a set of measures to combat the disease, taking into account the challenges of war related to population migration, destruction of infrastructure, etc.
Among the important results is the expansion of outpatient treatment options. In Ukraine, about 70% people with tuberculosis are treated without hospitalization from the first day. Hospitalization is necessary only if there are clear indications, in all other cases, people with TB are treated on an outpatient basis, maintaining the ability to work, study and lead a normal lifestyle. And this is absolutely safe for the environment, since treatment makes it impossible to infect other people.
In addition, the TB service is integrated with other health care institutions. Thanks to this, people have better access to specialized equipment and narrowly focused specialists. This approach is enshrined in Strategies for the development of the system of anti-tuberculosis medical care for the population for 2024-2026.
In 2024, the Law "«On overcoming tuberculosis in Ukraine»". It focuses on creating effective measures to completely overcome tuberculosis, including improving diagnostics, access to treatment and prevention. An important aspect of the Law is the consolidation of an intersectoral approach to overcoming tuberculosis, which involves combining the efforts of not only the health care system, but also other areas - social protection, education, public organizations, etc. to solve problems associated with the disease.
What you need to know about tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (a bacterium of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex). TB most often affects the lungs, but it can also affect other organs and systems in the human body.
The main route of transmission of tuberculosis is airborne. Infection occurs during coughing, sneezing, or talking to a person with tuberculosis who is shedding bacteria.
At the same time, TB is not transmitted through shaking hands, kissing, sharing utensils, food, water, or household items.
Anyone can get tuberculosis, regardless of social status.
Early detection of TB is the key to recovery
Timely diagnosis and, accordingly, timely treatment guarantee recovery. Therefore, immediately contact your family doctor or phthisiologist if you have the following symptoms:
- cough for longer than 2 weeks;
- elevated body temperature for more than 7 days;
- difficulty breathing;
- chest pain;
- poor appetite, unexplained weight loss;
- constant weakness;
- increased sweating, especially at night.
How is tuberculosis treated in Ukraine?
Tuberculosis is completely curable. Modern drugs for the treatment of TB are available in all regions of Ukraine. Thanks to innovative drugs, the duration of treatment has been reduced and for sensitive tuberculosis is 4–6 months, and for drug-resistant tuberculosis — mostly 6–9 months.
Preventive treatment is carried out in accordance with the latest WHO recommendations. It can be completed in 1 or 3 months, and protection lasts for more than 10 years. The main thing is to follow all doctor's prescriptions and not interrupt the course of such treatment.
Tuberculosis treatment is prescribed by phthisiologists — they select the optimal regimen of taking drugs. At the same time, the family doctor plays a key role in the management of a person with TB: he monitors compliance with the treatment regimen and monitors his well-being. This approach ensures the accessibility of medical care and makes treatment more effective.
Regional phthisiopulmonological centers coordinate measures to combat TB at the regional level and operate in every region of Ukraine. List of anti-TB institutions via link.
Together to overcome tuberculosis
During the Month of Overcoming Tuberculosis, the Public Health Center will share detailed information about tuberculosis: how it is treated, who is at risk, what to do for prevention, etc. After all, awareness is the first step towards overcoming TB.
Remember that all services related to TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment are free in Ukraine. Together we can defeat tuberculosis!