In the Vitebsk region, tuberculosis incidence has decreased by 16% over five years

March 18, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Tuberculosis incidence in the Vitebsk region has decreased by 16% over five years. This was announced today at a press conference by Pavel Gredel, head of the organizational and methodological office of the Vitebsk Regional Clinical Tuberculosis Dispensary, as reported by a BELTA correspondent. Thus, if in 2005, 599 people with tuberculosis were registered, then in the past year, 486 residents of the region. Mortality decreased by 35.3% (in 2005, 142 people died, in 2009 - 89). A positive trend towards a decrease in tuberculosis incidence is observed among children and adolescents. "In the last two years, isolated cases have been detected. Among those who fell ill are children from dysfunctional families with sick relatives," noted Pavel Gredel. According to him, the high annual coverage of the population with preventive X-ray fluorography examinations helped to stabilize the incidence of tuberculosis. In 2007, 812 thousand people were examined in the Vitebsk region, in 2008 - 868 thousand, and in 2009 - 889.5 thousand. In addition, the systematic strengthening of the material and technical base of specialized medical institutions and the introduction of new treatment methods played a significant role. Last year alone, Br2.4 billion was allocated for these purposes. This year, the investment volume is planned at Br1.5 billion. In general, in 2010-2014, the region plans to provide all districts with fluorographic equipment and implement a telemedicine system for digital fluorography under the state program "Tuberculosis," added Pavel Gredel. -0-