Project HOPE Joins Calls for a Human Rights Approach to Addressing Tuberculosis at the 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health in The Hague
Project HOPE says access to treatment for tuberculosis is a basic human right at the opening of the 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health begins in the Hague today.
The Hague, The Netherlands (October 24, 2018) –Project HOPE says access to treatment for tuberculosis is a basic human right at the opening of the 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health begins in the Hague today.
A team of TB experts from the US-based global health NGO is taking part in the conference, which will discuss how to end suffering caused by lung disease, with a focus specifically on the challenges faced by the low- and middle-income countries.
“There are 1.8 million people who die each year from tuberculosis (TB) – a curable disease,” said Alex Trusov, M.D., Senior Director, TB Portfolio for Project HOPE. “It is a basic human right to seek the prevention, treatment and care for TB. At Project HOPE, we are committed to support efforts that will accelerate the introduction of new tools and treatment regimens to reduce suffering and death from drug-resistant forms of TB especially.”
The conference is the largest of its kind and brings together thousands of leading health experts and policymakers from over 120 countries to review the latest developments in TB prevention and care.
The theme of the four-day conference is Declaring Our Rights: Social and Political Solutions highlighting the essential need for a human rights approach and greater political commitment to eradicate TB and reduce the global threats of tobacco use, air pollution and other lung diseases.
Project HOPE will present oral presentations and abstracts at the conference to highlight the NGO’s s work in TB prevention, detection, treatment and adherence in Central Asia.
Of the 10 million people who die each year from lung diseases, some 80 percent live in these resource-limited countries.
According to Dr Trusov, under reporting and under diagnosis of TB cases remains a major challenge. “Of the 10 million people who fell ill with TB in 2017, only 6.4 million were officially recorded by national reporting systems, leaving 3.6 million people undiagnosed, or detected but not reported.”
Project HOPE’s TB-related programming has contributed to a reduction of TB mortality rates by 22 percent in five Central Asian countries, and more than 2,700 health care providers have successfully completed project-oriented trainings and are now applying best practices in TB detection, treatment and prevention at their workplace in the Ukraine.
About Project HOPE
Founded in 1958, Project HOPE is a leader in global health and humanitarian relief programs. An international nonprofit organization, we are committed to transforming lives and uplifting communities by empowering health care workers to teach and deliver innovative, lifesaving solutions, every day and in times of crisis. With programs in 25 countries, we work at the epicenter of today’s greatest health challenges including infectious and noncommunicable diseases; disasters and health crises; maternal, neonatal and child health; and the policies that impact how health care is delivered. Learn more at www.projecthope.org.