WHO Ministerial Conference pledges to end TB by 2030

Moscow, SANA-Participants at the first WHO Global Ministerial Conference “Ending Tuberculosis (TB) in the Sustainable Development Era: A Multisectoral Response” announced their commitment to end the TB epidemic by 2030 and to make fundamental changes in the battle against the disease.

The ministers of health of the participating countries, including Syria, signed the declaration of Moscow on the end of tuberculosis, in which they pledged to address all the determinants of the epidemic and to ensure preventive care services to everyone and secure sufficient sustainable financing for these commitments.

The Declaration affirmed the need to detect at least 90% of the TB cases and provide the requirements for successful treatment in all countries. It also gave special attention to scientific research to develop more effective TB drugs and vaccines by 2025.

Speaking to SANA, Health Minister, Nizar Yazigi, emphasized Syria’s commitment to the efforts of the international community to eliminate TB by 2030 through seeking to detect all cases of tuberculosis and provide the necessary health care and treatment.

He said that Syria witnesses decreasing in the TB cases despite the challenges of the current circumstances and this proofs the success of the ministry’s efforts.

The TB cases registered in Syria decreased from 3576 cases in 2014 to 3134 in 2015.

TB kills around 5,000 people of all ages and threatens all countries, it is the most deadly diseases that infect working-age people. TB-resistant accounts for one-third of all deaths from antimicrobial resistance, according to WHO.

Manar/ Ghossoun