August 24, 2012

Global NGO's Program to Improve Health of Ukrainians Through TB Testing And Other Measures to Prevent Rapid Increase of the Disease in Ukraine – Fifth Largest TB Burden Country In the World.

Millwood, VA (PRWEB) August 23, 2012

Project HOPE, a global health education and humanitarian assistance organization, has received $4.7 million from USAID to strengthen the tuberculosis (TB) infection control program in Ukraine. The five-year program will be implemented with Chemonics.

The program aims to improve the health of Ukrainians by assisting the Ministry of Health to increase routine TB services, including the detection and treatment of TB, multi- and extensively-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB and XDR-TB), and preventing the rapid growth of TB-HIV co-infection that is contributing to a serious TB burden in Ukraine.

Ukraine is the fifth largest TB burden country in the world. With an incidence rate of 101 per 100,000 people, many of them are multi-drug resistant.

“The TB epidemic is exacerbated by an increasing HIV epidemic, and, as TB is the most common cause of death among people living with AIDS, so it is important to train Health Care Workers (HCW) in TB/HIV co-infection, and also to improve TB and HIV services integration,” said Dr. Alex Trusov, Project HOPE’s Senior Program Officer for TB.

Project HOPE and Chemonics will provide technical assistance, training and equipment to improve the quality, scope and coordination of TB health services in Ukraine. The USAID-funded project, known as The Strengthening TB Control in Ukraine Program, will also improve the quality and availability of the WHO-recommended DOTS-based TB services as well as strengthening TB monitoring and evaluation systems and TB surveillance, which are essential components of the program.

Project HOPE has previously implemented USAID-funded TB programs in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Africa, to increase access to TB prevention and treatment among at-risk populations. HOPE has also conducted direct outreach services and training to at-risk communities, increasing TB and HIV knowledge and awareness. The organization has also trained health care providers to reduce the stigma associated with HIV and TB, increase case identification and ensure compliance with treatment regimen.

About Project HOPE

Founded in 1958, Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is dedicated to providing lasting solutions to health problems with the mission of helping people to help themselves. Identifiable to many by the SS HOPE, the world’s first peacetime hospital ship, Project HOPE now provides medical training and health education, and conducts humanitarian assistance programs in more than 35 countries.