AKIPRESS.COM - To raise public awareness of tuberculosis (TB) and its impact on public health, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its TB Control Program with its partners the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population, the National Tuberculosis Program, and the Republican Center for Healthy Lifestyles recognized World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, the U.S. Embassy said.

At the ceremony, USAID and its national partners recognized leaders in TB control: doctors, nurses, outreach and community advocates, and volunteers from across Tajikistan for their outstanding contributions to improving TB care, building public awareness of TB, and supporting those impacted by TB. The USAID TB Control Program recognized winners of its semiannual competition for the best reporting on TB in print, electronic, and TV/Radio media categories because local media and journalists play a crucial role in raising public awareness and reducing discrimination against people with TB.

The World TB Day commemoration represented one of many events held by the USAID TB Control Program and the Challenge TB project in March and April as part of a broader national TB awareness campaign. Across Tajikistan, USAID and its national partners organized presentations on TB at six of the eight American Spaces to share TB prevention messages among youth, held roundtable discussions to recognize the achievements of TB and laboratory specialists, and held TB fairs for patients and their families at Machiton and Degmoy TB hospitals, for inmates in Khatlon and Sughd prisons, and in many communities throughout the country.