Best Practices Reorganization of the TB Programme in Children in in Primorsky Region, Russia

Abstract

Primorsky region has high TB prevalence and TB prevalence in children and adolescents as well. In 2009-2012 TB programme for children and adolescents was reorganized to improve its efficiency: reorganization of children's TB facilities (in-patient hospital, sanatoriums and sanatorium boarding school) and introduction of new immune tests and computerized tomography examination were performed. TB treatment was supplemented with social, psychological and pedagogic assistance to the patients. Rehabilitation departments were organized as branches of the in-patient hospital, which resulted in 16 times increase of the number of patients subjected to preventive treatment in 2013 compared to 2009. Organization of the Hospital branches in distant from Vladivostok regions resulted in that 86% of children (874) subjected to preventive treatment and rehabilitation were from distant regions.