Vietnam on its way to the End of TB

Nguyễn Thị Vietnam Health Minister Kim Tiến joins the Head of State, Ministers and other leaders at the first ever United Nations high-level TB meeting, September 26, at the 2018 General Assembly in New York. She made a strong statement of commitment to the action during the plenary and at a media briefing on the high-level meeting.

“Vietnam warmly congratulates the United Nations on holding a successful high-level meeting on ending tuberculosis,” said Madame Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến, Vietnam’s minister of health, during talks with reporters at the UN. “This event is of great importance, though ambitious with its Declaration, it leads the way to a very humanitarian struggle as it can save millions of lives and bring happiness to millions of families around the world every year. Vietnam will do its utmost to reduce mortality and morbidity by introducing new tools, new drugs, new approaches with great political commitment and strengthening the health system, especially at broad level, with universal health coverage. We will also work to mobilize all the social resources needed to fight TB. ”

Tuberculosis is one of the deadliest infectious diseases in Vietnam with 124,000 cases and over 12,000 deaths in 2017. However, with greater attention and strengthening of strategic and management efforts, Vietnam has strengthened its TB diagnosis and care system, achieving 82% treatment coverage infected during 2017 and the target reached 90% by 2022.

Vietnam’s presence at the UN summit followed a recent mission in Hanoi, where a delegation from all WHO offices at national, regional and central level met with Vice Prime Minister Vũ Đức Jama, Ms. Nguyễn Vũ Hà Lê, Director for International Cooperation. Office of the President and Minister of Health Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến. The delegation was led by Dr. Teresa Kasaeva, Director of the WHO Global Tuberculosis Program.

“The level of political commitment in the country is very high, resulting in tremendous progress in the national response to tuberculosis,” said Dr. Teresa Kasaeva, director of the World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Program. “I am very impressed with the commitment of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Health to raise the profile of efforts to stop tuberculosis in the country. They suggested that the high-level commission for the prevention and control of HIVAIDS, drugs and prostitution in the country be revitalized into a joint multi-sector commission to fight TB, HIV / AIDS under the auspices of the Prime Minister. It is this move that will keep TB high nationally and accelerate progress. ”

Visiting the National Lung Laboratory and TB Reference Laboratory, Hanoi Lung Hospital, Thanh Tri District Health Center and other hospitals and health centers, the delegation praised the commitment of the National Tuberculosis Program and its progress in maintaining high rates of treatment.

“Vietnam is a traveler for tuberculosis efforts worldwide,” said Dr. KiDong Park, WHO representative for Vietnam. “I would like to express my gratitude for the national anti-TB program, which has been instrumental in directing towards the anti-TB program. While great strides have been made in the fight against TB, the country needs to step up its efforts to fight drug-resistant TB. “

Despite Vietnam’s pioneering role in introducing innovative approaches and in diagnosing and treating patients in recent years, less than half of TB patients are currently undergoing treatment. Strengthening the diagnostic network and the ability to manage multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) in the country at all levels is a priority.

Leading research efforts in the region

Meetings with Minister of Health Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến reviewed the response to tuberculosis in the country and focused on Vietnam’s ability to set up a Regional TB Research Network along the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) research network .

“The leadership of Vietnam in the pioneering national TB research network VICTORY is truly impressive,” said Dr. Tauhid Islam, TB and Leprosy Coordinator, WPRO. “We would like to see Vietnam take the next step and establish a Regional Tuberculosis Research Network along the BRICS Research Network.”

Growing political momentum

Vietnam is one of the first countries to commit to the program Find.Treat.All. #EndTB (http://www.who.int/tb/joint-initiative/en/) Initiative to reach the care of 40 million people globally, with WHO helping to develop a country-specific goal for Vietnam. This initiative will launch an action to close the gap in prevention and care.

The participation of the Minister of Health in the UN high-level meeting on TB reflects the high-level commitment of the Government of Vietnam and elevates the country’s status as a role model for the rest of the world.