Public health

Tuberculosis screening among key affected populations in the Central region of the Republic of Moldova (districts: Ialoveni, Straseni, Stefan Voda, Ungheni, Soldanesti)

Project duration: 01.09.2021 - 31.12.2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread social disruption and reduced access to essential healthcare services, which is detrimental to national TB control efforts. The Republic of Moldova, being among the 30 countries with a high burden of multidrug-resistant TB worldwide, has seen a dramatic decrease of about 40% in TB case notification and treatment initiation by the end of 2020. The share of destructive forms among new cases was - 41%. Undiagnosed TB cases will most likely contribute to and cause the spread of TB infection in the community, but also increase the number of advanced TB cases, causing catastrophic costs both to the individual and to the whole health system.

At the same time, in addition to the decrease in TB notification due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to preliminary data from the National Public Health Agency, in 2020, in almost half of the country's districts, the number of family doctors responsible for prophylactic examination of risk groups and increased vigilance for TB has decreased. Among the territories that have seen a decrease in the number of family doctors in 2020 are - Balti municipality, Briceni, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Rascani, Straseni, Ungheni, Stefan Voda districts and others.

Targeted testing activities through NGOs are implemented in 2021 in 26 territories (districts and municipalities, including the left bank of the Dniester River) under the grant "Strengthening Tuberculosis Control and Reducing AIDS Mortality in Moldova", funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

A.O. "AFI" is currently carrying out TB screening activities in Straseni and Ialoveni districts, with resources available for 1200 beneficiaries. At the same time, according to estimates there is a need to supplement the number of beneficiaries screened in both territories (unscreened in 2020 in Ialoveni - 2426 and Strășeni - 5494 people from groups at risk and increased vigilance to TB).

The basic aim of the project is effective TB screening among the population in at-risk groups and increased TB vigilance through strengthened community stakeholder approach.

The project is carried out with the financial support of the CNAM.