Fresh measures to deal with emerging challenges in detecting andcontrolling tuberculosis (TB) in Vietnam are being sought from leadingVietnamese and foreign experts.
At a conference inHo Chi Minh on November 10-11, Dr. Martina Casenghi from the Doctorswithout Borders pointed to the significant use of tools that helpdoctors promptly determine drug-resistant tuberculosis in discoveringand controlling the disease.
Timely and accurate diagnose is key to ensure TB suffers are treated appropriately, said Casenghi.
TB is the second leading cause of death from a single infectious agent in the world after HIV.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan, head of Microbiology Department of Pham NgocThach Hospital, said doctors are now using advanced technologies toidentify the disease, including the cutting-edge Gene Xpert technology.
However, the costly technology makes it an obstacleto the national TB control programme, which is in short of finances dueto declining foreign assistance, Lan said.
Shetalked about a molecular approach that will come up with faster and moreaccurate testing results to improve the treatment efficiency.
During the conference, participants also assessed the current medicalneed in tuberculosis treatment in Vietnam , as well as requirementsin researching and developing methods of early diagnosis and treatment.
According to the World Health Organisation, TBkilled 1.5 million people out of 9 million-infected patients in theworld in 2013. Of the fatal cases, 360,000 were among HIV-positivepeople.
The organisation noticed that last year, Vietnam had 102,196 TB-infected cases.-VNA
At a conference inHo Chi Minh on November 10-11, Dr. Martina Casenghi from the Doctorswithout Borders pointed to the significant use of tools that helpdoctors promptly determine drug-resistant tuberculosis in discoveringand controlling the disease.
Timely and accurate diagnose is key to ensure TB suffers are treated appropriately, said Casenghi.
TB is the second leading cause of death from a single infectious agent in the world after HIV.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan, head of Microbiology Department of Pham NgocThach Hospital, said doctors are now using advanced technologies toidentify the disease, including the cutting-edge Gene Xpert technology.
However, the costly technology makes it an obstacleto the national TB control programme, which is in short of finances dueto declining foreign assistance, Lan said.
Shetalked about a molecular approach that will come up with faster and moreaccurate testing results to improve the treatment efficiency.
During the conference, participants also assessed the current medicalneed in tuberculosis treatment in Vietnam , as well as requirementsin researching and developing methods of early diagnosis and treatment.
According to the World Health Organisation, TBkilled 1.5 million people out of 9 million-infected patients in theworld in 2013. Of the fatal cases, 360,000 were among HIV-positivepeople.
The organisation noticed that last year, Vietnam had 102,196 TB-infected cases.-VNA
