Bolivia has the highest Tuberculosis incidence in Latin America. It is particularly challenging to treat TB in Bolivia due to divisions in society, poverty and the remoteness of some rural communities. With the support of The Global Fund, over two thirds of new TB cases are now being detected and close to 90% of these are successfully treated. Bolivia received over $5 million funding with an aim to half the death rate from TB by the end of 2008.
Poverty keeps most of the Bolivian population in a position where they are more likely to contract TB due to close living quarters and lack of a balanced diet. In addition, it is more difficult to cure TB in poor populations because treatment involves taking drugs every day for six or nine months and they find it hard to follow the rigorous programme. They are suspicious of government hospitals or they feel better once they start the treatment and are reluctant to devote their time to continue it through to the end.
Bolivia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in South America. Outside the cities, people often have to travel a long way to reach health care facilities and this is not easy, given the poor transport infrastructure. Establishing small clinics in rural areas is vital to reach people living in remote areas. The country’s indigenous population has too often been overlooked by healthcare programmes. Global Fund money has helped an association of indigenous communities called CIDOB to increase acceptance of modern medicine and overcome the suspicion of western doctors.
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