WHO/Europe

Russian Federation

A press conference on 22 March hosted by the World TB Day Organizing Committee and featuring the Ministry of Health and Social Development, the Ministry of Justice, the Chief TB Specialist, the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, and WHO will focus on total resistance, patient-oriented care, TB among children, implementation of new approaches and technologies and methods of diagnostics and treatment.

It was held at the Russian Information Agency, RIA Novosti. In 2012 World TB Day activities in Russia have been implemented under the slogan “Our generation must stop TB!”.
The press conference was attended by Dr Lyudmila Mikhailova, Deputy Director of the Department for Organization of Prevention, Care and Public Health Development, Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation (MOHSD), who presented the latest situation on TB in Russia and the measures undertaken to stop TB, including the government's efforts to secure funding and the modernization of TB services. In particular, she mentioned the 7.3% decrease in TB mortality in 2011 compared to 2010 when it reached 13.9 per 100 000. However, MDR-TB and TB/HIV rates continue to rise.
Dr Mikhailova was followed by Dr Sergey Baryshev, Head of the Medical Services Department of the Federal Correctional Service of the Russian Federation, who presented the achievements and problems of effective TB control in prisons.
Professor Peter Yablonsky, chief specialist on thoracic surgery and phthisiology of the MOHSD, discussed the existing challenges and the innovations that are needed in TB control.
Dr Luigi Migliorini, Head of the WHO Country Office in the Russian Federation, spoke about the role of international cooperation in the fight against TB and mentioned the message from the UN Secretary-General in connection with World TB Day.

In February 2012 the Moscow Oblast centre for health education and health promotion sent an informational letter about the events scheduled to celebrate World TB Day in the Moscow region to 120 stakeholders, including the heads of health care institutions, chief MPI specialists, and the heads of health centres and health services. The Oblast will be organizing public events and a medical conference in Domodedovo city to be attended by 300 people.
With support from Partners in Health and WHO, the Central TB Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences will organize a scientific conference for young researchers on 23 March.
Partners in Health will also be organizing events throughout March to raise awareness about TB in Tomsk.
The Russian Red Cross will hold a children's poster contest on 20 April to celebrate the 145th anniversary of the Russian Red Cross and World TB Day. The Russian Red Cross will also be organizing a photo exhibition of Serge Golovach at the First Medical University; a public awareness campaign at Kazanskiy railway station, and (in collaboration with FPS) a creative contest among inmates in correctional facilities in 10 regions participating in the TB project.
AIHA together with the Russian Red Cross will conduct a survey of TB patients. It will also publish articles ("Truth and Myths about TB"; "TB is treatable") in the Metro newspaper on 23 March.
GBC Health in the Universities produced an exhibition of historic posters on TB control titled "Illustrated Disease History", which will be on display through March and an information campaign in the framework of the theatre festival "Golden mask".
The International Organization for Migration will distribute leaflets on TB prevention among migrants, on TB prevention and healthy lifestyles, and on trade union activities for labour migrants. It will also engage in discussions with migrants and negotiations with the Federal Migration Service.
Médecins Sans Frontières will host events throughout March to raise awareness about TB.
On 23 March, a scientific conference for young researchers will be held at the Central TB Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences with the support of PIH and WHO.
There will be a children's poster contest dedicated to the 145th anniversary of the Russian Red Cross and World TB Day. The event will take place on 20 April, organized by the Russian Red Cross and involving their partners who nominate awards.
Throughout March 2012, there will be several events to raise TB awareness in areas around Grozny, such as work with the mass media and training for journalists, hosted by MSF-Holland.

More information

External television and news links on WTBD activities (in Russian)

6tv