Solutions for the sake of life

In early August of this year, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted the Strategy for the Development of the TB Medical Care System for 2024-2026. It is a document that has remained largely invisible to most people. Although tuberculosis is a disease that is "fed" by wars: it is during wars that its outbreaks are observed. And the best way out is prevention, early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Ilona Yeleneva, Director of the Labor and Health Social Initiatives (LHSI), said: "The strategy contains the important components that our organisation has been working on for more than 10 years:

• focus on early detection of tuberculosis;
• greater involvement of primary health care providers;
• coordination of efforts at the community level and a multisectoral approach to overcoming TB;
• recognition of the role of NGOs in overcoming TB.

For example, all this is part of the project "You should know about TB", which we have been implementing since 2018.

Unfortunately, we are now seeing a decline in TB detection. But not because we have overcome it. In the regions where we work with IDPs, we also see that tuberculosis is not the highest priority for the medical system in a country at war. It is necessary to provide assistance to victims of war, both military and civilians. We hope that the implementation of the strategy will help to draw attention to tuberculosis, as there are always outbreaks during wars."

Ilona Yeleneva also adds that the adoption of the Strategy by the Government gives hope for new funding channels:

"Our NGO continues to work on improving access to TB detection for vulnerable groups of people. It is unfortunate that we expect further cuts in funding for early TB detection in the Global Fund grant. We hope that other financial opportunities will be found within the framework of the strategy."