Georgia

On March 24, the Georgian Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs will organize an opening ceremony for the new department built for MDR-TB patients (containing 100 beds) at the National Center for TB and Lung Diseases.

With support from the University Research Co. (implementing the USAID Tuberculosis Prevention Project), the Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU) Student Government and Youth Organization for Health care Development is planning a "Life without TB" event to raise public awareness and support for patients with TB. As part of this event on 23 March, a conference dedicated to World TB Day will be held in the administrative building of TSMU. The conference will be attended by members of the Health Care and Social Issues Committee, Parliament of Georgia, representatives of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDCPH), University Research Co., Tbilisi Municipality, the national TB programme, and also the Rector of TSMU, faculty and students. On 24 March, students will march from Tbilisi Concert Hall to Freedom Square, where they will distribute informational booklets. Finally, kites with the STOP TB logo will be released into the air from Rike Park.