2023-09-22 10:45:08
In collaboration with the World Health Organization, Polish and Ukrainian health authorities are working to better manage tuberculosis cases.
Despite the recent cold snap between Kyiv and Warsaw, Ukrainian and Polish health authorities are working closely with the World Health Organization to stem the growing number of tuberculosis cases among refugees who fled the invasion of their countries by the Russia.
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Even before the Russian invasion, Ukraine was already facing this infectious lung disease. The country even recorded the second highest incidence of tuberculosis in Europe. The authorities then adopted a rigorous approach to contain this disease.
But with the arrival of millions of Ukrainian refugees, Poland had to adapt too.
Stefan WesołowskiDirector General of the Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases: “Previously, in Poland, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was not a major problem… The outbreak of war changed the situation, there are now more than 100 cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, which represents approximately a tripling compared to the previous situation.
Since 2015, the WHO has made combating the global tuberculosis epidemic a priority. She now works in close collaboration with the Polish authorities.
Nino BerdzuliWHO special envoy for emergency response in Ukraine: “When the population fled the war in Ukraine, it was necessary ensure access to continued treatment for tuberculosis and ensure rapid diagnosis of new cases of tuberculosis. The Polish health authorities reacted very quickly to meet this challenge. WHO Europe worked closely with Polish health authorities and Polish health facilities.”
When Russia invaded Ukraine, some 4 million people crossed the border to take refuge in Poland, mainly women, children and the elderly. Around a million refugees are still there. WHO and authorities in Poland and Ukraine are working to prevent tuberculosis from adding to the many challenges they face.
Tuberculosis is the second deadliest infectious disease of the planet following COVID-19, infecting around 10 million people each year. 1.5 million people die from this disease every year.
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