Major strides against TB in past decade: official

• Source: Global Times
• [03:59 March 25 2010]
• Comments

By Yin Hang

China has made significant achievements in combating tuberculosis (TB) in the past decade, medical officials and experts said Wednesday.

Speaking in a function commemorating the World Tuberculosis Day Wednesday, the experts also called for strengthened efforts among private enterprises to fight against TB.

"From 2001 to 2009, China has found and cured around 8 million active TB patients, with the recovery rate reaching above 90 percent," Jiang Shiwen, deputy director of the TB division of the China Center for Disease Control, said Wednesday afternoon in Beijing.

"By carrying the national tuberculosis prevention and control plan, China has avoided 2 million deaths, 40 million infections and 4 million TB cases," Jiang added.

China made up its national plan on tuberculosis prevention and control in 2001, when 4.5 million active TB patients were reported and tubercle bacillus were found in 550 million people.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention is now working on drafting a new national tuberculosis prevention and control plan for the next 10 years, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Jiang feels the emphasis on TB prevention in China should focus on the 224 million migrant workers because they are vulnerable to the disease.

"Due to their low income, poor living and working environment, and poor education, migrant workers become the most vulnerable group of people that need our attention in preventing TB," said Jiang.

Jiang said employers, employees and medical workers at every enterprise and factory in China should take responsibility for fighting the disease.

Li Yan, vice president of the government and public affairs department of Lilly China, which has spent $135 million on drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) prevention programs worldwide since 2003, hoped their experience with Chinese enterprises could benefit migrant workers.

"The burden of TB prevention in China is still heavy. We hope bosses from more enterprises in China could join the fight against TB," Li said.

Li and her workers with support from the local government and disease control center started a pilot program in Guangdong Province last year to improve awareness about TB.

The program selected employees from enterprises, taught them and sent them back to educate their peers.

A representative surnamed Lu from Ciyu Shoes Manufacturing Company, which employs more than 13,000 migrant workers in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, said the program is effective in enhancing awareness.

Jiang said the "peer to peer" TB prevention measures would be promoted in the country.

"We will continue to work on promoting and applying the program in the future, while raising the attention of more enterprises," Jiang said.