The Ministry of Health of Ukraine has approved an action plan for the implementation of the State Strategy for the Development of the TB Medical Care System for the Population for 2020-2023. The implementation of measures will allow achieving the targets for improving the effectiveness of TB treatment, reducing mortality and overcoming the TB epidemic in Ukraine.

The action plan defines clear and specific tasks for the implementation of the Strategy, indicators for them and responsible executors, according to the Ministry of Health.

"Special attention is paid to the issue of rehabilitation and social support of patients with tuberculosis. In particular, it is envisaged to develop an effective mechanism for involving local social protection services, non-governmental organizations and employment centers. That is, the approach to social support and medical rehabilitation of a patient with tuberculosis should be in accordance with individual needs, "said Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Viktor Lyashko.

According to him, among the priority steps for 2021 are:

• ensuring continuity of TB treatment and diagnosis in response to challenges associated with coronavirus disease (COVID-19);
• creation of a system of unified regional phthisiopulmonology centers and equipped with all the necessary offices of district phthisiologists with access to CT and the latest diagnostic methods;
• ensuring compliance of the material and technical base of regional phthisiopulmonology centers with the requirements of the standard on infection control for health care facilities that provide care to patients with tuberculosis.

The order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine dated August 17, 2020 № 1903 “On approval of Amendments to the order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine dated July 10, 2013 № 585” was recently published. Approval of changes to the order makes possible to diagnose "HIV infection" and prescribe antiretroviral therapy by doctors who have completed an internship in "222 Medicine" and passed specialization courses or thematic improvement on HIV / AIDS in higher medical education or postgraduate education. information and training on HIV / AIDS case management on the basis of higher education institutions, postgraduate education institutions, research institutions, health care institutions, including natural persons - entrepreneurs who are registered and licensed in the manner prescribed by law.

Prior to the changes, only AIDS Infectious Diseases Center doctors could diagnose HIV and prescribe ART. The new order also increased the term of issuing antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of stable patients and clarified the concept of a stable patient.

"About 1,000 children in Ukraine get tuberculosis a year, unfortunately 10 of them we lose from this disease," - said Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Association of People with Tuberculosis "Stronger than TB" Olena Fedorovska during a conference at the news agency Ukrinform.

According to her, the WHO in 2017 drew attention to childhood tuberculosis, because in countries with high levels of tuberculosis infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis occurs in childhood. These facts confirm the need to control latent tuberculosis infection, as it is children who are indicators of the spread of tuberculosis.

Today, according to Fedorovska, there are 19 schools for children with small forms of tuberculosis in Ukraine, regional children's anti-tuberculosis dispensaries, and centers for providing medical care to children with active forms of tuberculosis. But these medical institutions are shrinking, and the question arises who will accompany such children. According to Fedorovskaya, imposing such responsibilities on a family doctor is inexpedient, due to the heavy workload on primary care physicians. Therefore, it is unclear how and where such children will receive medical care.

According to the WHO, announced at a press conference by Igor Gorbasenko, Chairman of the Board of the Expert Community of Patients of Ukraine, Ukraine ranks 4th in the world in the incidence of adult tuberculosis, and fifth in the incidence of children among 53 regions controlled by the European Bureau. WHO. The average estimated WHO figure for child morbidity is 37.4 per 100,000 children, and 4.5 times higher than the official figure.

Also, according to him, the coverage of children with professional examinations for tuberculosis has decreased from 90% to 36%. NGOs have taken the initiative to create a Children's Fund to combat tuberculosis.

“We are announcing the creation of a Children's Fund to fight tuberculosis. With the reduction of anti-tuberculosis centers and medical institutions where children with tuberculosis were treated and rehabilitated, the question arises as to what happens to these children. Therefore, we believe that this issue is one of the most important and we aim to create a program of reforms to combat childhood tuberculosis in Ukraine and promote its implementation, as well as to explore the real state of tuberculosis among children and adolescents, to identify the needs of each child, "he said. Vitaliy Rudenko, Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainians Against Tuberculosis NGO.

Building on 40 years of experience in the fight against AIDS, UNAIDS is releasing a new guide to reducing stigma and discrimination in the context of COVID-19. The handbook includes the latest data on what can effectively reduce HIV / AIDS stigma and discrimination; these same measures are proposed to be used in the context of COVID-19.

"Following the fear and insecurity that grips people during a pandemic, discrimination is rapidly evolving," said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. "Stigma and discrimination expose people to violence, harassment and isolation, prevent access to health care and prevent health care professionals from effectively combating panemia."

Guide offers countries human rights-based guidelines governing education, support, referral and other interventions. It contains solutions for six specific areas: community life, workplace interaction, education, health, justice, and emergencies in need of humanitarian assistance.