12th August 2008: Concerns relating to the provision of resistant-TB programs.
MSF is present in Georgia and Abkhazia, to provide among other services, health care to patients affected by drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB)
The on-going treatment of patients affected by multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is of key concern to our teams. Suspending a TB program even a few days can have dire consequences on the health of our patients.
For the time being, the two MDR-TB programs for our patients will continue. In Soukhoumi (in the breakaway region of Abkhazia), our team is still providing treatment to 80 patients in the hospital and in 7 mobile clinics.
In Zougdidi (in Georgia), where close to 120 people are under treatment, MSF international staff have evacuated the city, while local teams remain present in the health structures to provide care.
Despite their presence, three patients have already left the hospital, which will probably have a negative consequence on their treatment. As tuberculosis is a contagious disease, their departure may also pose a serious health risk for those with whom they come into contact.
The teams in Soukhoumi and Zougdidi still have each two weeks worth of medical supplies for MDRTB. In two weeks time however, they will have run out of one of the drug molecules (PAS), which will negatively affect the continuity of treatment for the patients.
Supply of second-line drugs is difficult even in non-conflict conditions, the current unrest in this region is likely to make accessing these medicines even more challenging