World Tuberculosis Day marked in Moldova

Chisinau, 24 March /MOLDPRES/ - The World Tuberculosis Day, established by the United Nations Organization, is marked today. On this occasion, Parliament Speaker Zinaida Greceanii and the head of the parliament’s commission for social protection, health and family, member of the Global TB Caucus Elena Bacalu addressed messages, in which they speak about the challenges to the health system, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the parliament’s communication and public relations department has reported.   

The message by Speaker Zinaida Greceanii reads:  

”In the last years, more achievements have been recorded in fighting tuberculosis with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), such as improved procedures of diagnosing and treatment, shorter and more efficient recovery process. Nevertheless, the problem remains complicated globally and the COVID-19 pandemic undermines the fight against TB – the most serious infectious disease in the world. Now, the countries of the world, including Moldova, focus on the fight against the pandemic of the new coronavirus, as an additional challenge to the problem of tuberculosis.    

We are deeply grateful to all the health care system’s employees and we have great hopes in their professionalism and powers. And the citizens must obey the advice of physicians and stay at home, in order not to put at risk their health and the health of the people around them.

In the context of the World Tuberculosis Day, I make an appeal to all citizens of Moldova. Be responsible and united with the medical employees, with the authorities in the titanic efforts of ceasing the spread of coronavirus and of maintaining a proper level of the health system on the whole. Pray for their health and for the health of the dear people. Pray at home, thus giving physicians and authorities possibility to protect you.’’  

The message of the head of the parliament’s commission for social protection, health and family, member of the Global TB Caucus Elena Bacalu reads:

”On 24 March, the entire world marks the World Tuberculosis Day, which represents an occasion of mobilization in fulfilling the political commitments to stop the TB epidemic in the world and nationally.  

In Moldova, TB remains a priority public health problem, as the country is among the 30 states of the world with high burden of the multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. In the last years, we have found out a tendency of stabilization of the epidemiological situation through tuberculosis, as a result of the efforts of the healthcare system and the community in providing the services of care in TB (prevention, detecting, treatment), focused on people’s needs.    

At present, there is the risk for these results to be undermined by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to spread globally and hit Moldova too. The spread of the coronavirus prompted the countries to take measures locally, nationally and internationally.  

This hotbed is a call to the international community as to how vulnerable the globalized world is to a public health danger and that we, the members of the Global TB Caucus cannot afford ignoring the safety of the health of our citizens.

At the same time, the COVID epidemic shows us the importance of prioritizing the health and allocating financial and human resources, in order to have a resistant and sustainable health system before the old challenges, such as tuberculosis, and the new ones.

The strengthening of the health system, ensuring of universal access to medical services, creation of domestic resources and investments in the creation of response capacities, introduction of innovative approaches, such as the controlled video treatment, involvement of communities and non-governmental organizations must represent a priority for the systemic sustainability against all epidemics.  

At present, we remain at home, stay in safety, remain isolated, but united. Now, more than ever, I commit to protect the most vulnerable residents during the pandemic, including the people hit by tuberculosis!’’

On 24 March, the World Tuberculosis Day is marked all over the world; it represents an occasion to inform the public about the reasons, prevention and treatment of tuberculosis, with the final goal being the ceasing of the TB epidemic globally.