"If they suffer from TB, they lose their jobs and have no income, so we have to give them support, for example transport fees, and maybe some food ... we reached the 2005 targets, DOTS coverage is 100%"
With over 4.5 million people infected with TB, China has the world’s second highest number of TB patients. 85% of these patients are poor. Poor people live in conditions that make them more vulnerable to contracting TB, and less likely to receive treatment. Some cannot afford to be diagnosed, or would fear stigma if they were. Others, once diagnosed, cannot afford transportation to clinics, or even basic nutrition while on treatment. Still, others risk abandoning treatment as they migrate to work in cities. Through Global Fund grants, more than 500,000 people have been treated successfully. Poor TB patients are now provided with transport to dispensaries, monitoring, food and free diagnostic services (microscopy, X-rays). Global Fund TB grants are also used to educate the general population on TB, and to train health workers.
The central government began providing free TB drugs in 2004 in order to attract more patients. Dr. Jiang Shiwen, a Director at the National TB Control Programme, describes how China is ensuring that poor TB patients are reached and treated successfully.
"The first (challenge) is money ... the second is migration ... people from high prevalence provinces move to the lower prevalence city to seek jobs and earn money."
With over 4.5 million people infected with TB, China has the world’s second highest number of TB patients. 85% of these patients are poor. Poor people live in conditions that make them more vulnerable to contracting TB, and less likely to receive treatment. Some cannot afford to be diagnosed, or would fear stigma if they were. Others, once diagnosed, cannot afford transportation to clinics, or even basic nutrition while on treatment. Still, others risk abandoning treatment as they migrate to work in cities. Through Global Fund grants, more than 500,000 people have been treated successfully. Poor TB patients are now provided with transport to dispensaries, monitoring, food and free diagnostic services (microscopy, X-rays). Global Fund TB grants are also used to educate the general population on TB, and to train health workers.
The central government began providing free TB drugs in 2004 in order to attract more patients. Dr. Jiang Shiwen, a Director at the National TB Control Programme, describes how China is ensuring that poor TB patients are reached and treated successfully. 