World TB Day 2002 - In the News

ITAR-TASS News Agency
Headline: Russia marks International TB Day
Date: March 24, 2002, Sunday

Russia marks the International TB Day. Medics report on their achievements and problems.

The tuberculosis rate was 20 percent down in Russia's Ivanovo region in 2001. The TB death rate in that region was 17 percent down thanks to six years of cooperation with the World Health Organization, chief physician of the regional TB center Olga Medvedeva has told Itar-Tass.

The TB rate has been 34 percent down in penitentiaries on territory of the Oryol region, yet the tuberculosis rate in the region is still high. Every 77 out of 100,000 residents are sick with TB. Seventy-two died of tuberculosis last year. Head of the local health department Mikhail Shirokov said that they would achieve a certain progress no earlier than in four years due to the shortage of funds.

The TB death rate was 6 percent up in the Orenburg region in 2001, departmenthead of the regional TB center Sergei Churkin has told Itar-Tass. The reasons are low living standards, unfavorable environment and scarce financing of the TB services, he said. The TB rate amongst the young is especially alarming. The TB rate was up 9 percent amongst children and 15 percent amongst teenagers in 2001.

The TB rate in penitentiaries on the territory of Mordovia is skyrocketing. Every fifth inmate in penitentiary ZHKH-385 is sick with tuberculosis. The TB rate amongst residents of the republic is nearly catastrophic. Every 63 out of 100,000 residents are sick with TB, chief physician of the Mordovia republican TB center Valery Guryanov has said.

Back to Home Page - WTBD '02 main page - Top of Page