Moldova: Fighting a Deadly Disease
03/17/2011
The first in a series of blogs on MDR-TB in Moldova by photojournalist David Rochkind
Tuberculosis is a disease both preventable and curable. Nevertheless, it is estimated that more than 4,500 people across the globe die from the disease every day, with the numbers disproportionately high in the developing world. Multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) strains of the disease, which are more difficult and expensive to treat, represent a huge threat moving forward as they can have mortality rates above 50 percent. Moldova has one of the highest rates of MDR-TB in the world.
It is estimated that one out of every 10 patients in Moldova defaults on his TB treatment and that nearly 44 percent of all cases of TB in the country are multidrug-resistant. This development is largely due to the deterioration of the country's health infrastructure after the break-up of the Soviet Union. The country's Ministry of Health estimates that the number of people dying from TB has quadrupled since 1994. In spite of these numbers, the problem is still not being adequately addressed.
Read the full blog on the Pulitzer Center's website.
Learn More
See David Rochkind's article and multi-media piece Moldova: What Happens to MDR-TB Patients.
It is very unfortunate. Political games still continue and innocents are victims. Any country chooses its destiny. Outside interventions do not give importance to the local needs of the people. 44 % of MDR is too high. Please note it is not govt. fault. It is lack of compliance to therapy, incomplete and irregular treatment result in MDR. Definitely, it is costly and local govt. can only allow subsidies but the affected ones and their families have to cooperate and understand that management of TB is a long drawn process of regular medication. Behavioral change is to be brought into the programme for better compliance with IEC activities. Virulence of the TB strains are responsible for the outcome of the disease.
— Dr. C. Nagaraj on 2011-03-19