ICRC praises Azerbaijan's success in combating tuberculosis
By Jamila Babayeva
Azerbaijan has achieved the best results in the region and one of the most significant results in the world in the treatment of tuberculosis.
The remark was made by Head of Azerbaijan Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Denise Duran at the presentation of the film "Combating MDR TB in prisons. Azerbaijan's practice" on March 28.
Duran said the most widely-spread disease in the world after HIV leading to death is tuberculosis.
She noted that MDR- tuberculosis is spreading rapidly around the world, including the former Soviet Union, and this disease is the greatest danger to persons in places of imprisonment.
Duran stressed that Azerbaijan's Justice Ministry has recorded best result in the region in the treatment of tuberculosis, which is also quite high figure in the world. "The ministry and the International Committee of the Red Cross have made great efforts to control the prevalence of tuberculosis in prisons."
She added that the fight against tuberculosis in Azerbaijan is an exemplary model worldwide.
Chief of Justice Ministry's Main Medical Department Rafael Mehdiyev said the number of inmates with tuberculosis dropped by 58 times in 2010 compared to 1995.
He noted that death rate has dropped by 10 times in the past 10 years.
"The latest methods of treatment are put into practice in this area, and this work is appreciated by the World Health Organization," Mehdiyev said.
He noted that Azerbaijan has achieved great success in the fight against tuberculosis in prisons since 1995.
Mehdiyev said more than 13,000 inmates had been treated for TB since 1995, and treatment success rate reached 86 percent.