Based on the latest WHO report, total TB incidence in 2020 in Kyrgyzstan is 22,000 people. The TB treatment coverage was only 55% and 1,100 people died from TB in 2020, down from 1,730 in 2019. Amongst these, there were 2,178 laboratory-confirmed cases of MDR/RR-TB and pre-XDR-TB or XDR-TB in 2020 and 379 patients were detected with TB and HIV co-infection. Interesting to notice, that TB incidence rate between 2015 to 2020 decreased by only 47%.
The National TB Caucus in Kyrgyzstan, chaired by the former head Ms. Aida Kasymalieva, has been in action in the country since 2016. Numerous national, regional and international meetings on TB issues were organized with the participation and assistance of Hon. Aida. In result such meetings provided an opportunity for national TB stakeholders to discuss problems at the highest level and to take certain further steps in resolving them.
With new parliamentary elections that took place at the end of 2021, the appointment of a new head of the national TB Caucus was required.
On January 24th 2022, during a meeting of the Health Committee of the Kyrgyz parliament, the new head of the national TB Caucus was officially appointed by members of the Committee. Hon Dinara Ashimova MP, the Head of the Health Committee, is the new head of the national TB Caucus. The Head of the national TB Caucus of Uzbekistan, Hon Oral Ataniyazova MP, was instrumental to encourage the relaunch of the Kyrgyz National TB Caucus, by sending an official request to the speaker of Kyrgyz parliament.
This is an example of the great impact of the cooperation between Eastern Europe and Central Asia parliamentarians, who are willing to work within the regional parliamentary platform to take common actions to fight against TB. As TB has no borders, it is important to work collectively on that issue, not just focusing on national TB policies.
The further activities of the national TB Caucus with the engagement of partner civil society organizations and other main national TB stakeholders in the country will be discussed accordingly in the near future.