Support 130 TB Patients in Kazakhstan

Support 130 TB Patients in Kazakhstan project report

Thanks to your donation and funds of external donors, including the government, psycho-social support groups, made up of social workers, psychologists and TB nurses in two big cities (Oskemen and Semei) of East Kazakhstan helped one hundred ninety (190) MDR-TB patients from October 2010 to January 2011:

•  126 patients received food items and hygiene sets every month
•  78 patients received money for bus tickets and could come for consults and collect their medicines from health facilities
•  55 patients were interviewed to determine their problems and plan how to help them
•  More than 100 patients received counseling, were assisted to obtain a legal identification, pension certificate, welfare and disability benefits

Psycho-social support (PSS) group visited patients at their homes. MDR TB patients felt understanding and support from PSS group and medical workers. They started to trust more to medical workers. PSS program encouraged some patients to be involved in patient support work. As a result two local non-governmental non-profit organizations (one in Oskemen and one in Semey) are in the process of registration.

Project staff carried out regular meetings with local authorities to plan, coordinate, discuss problems and together find solutions. As a result local budget for social support to TB patients tripled!

Medical workers noted that adherence to treatment among MDRTB patients included in the program was higher than among those who were not included in the program. According to interviews and check of patients’ files forty four MDRTB respondents interrupted treatment before start of PSS program and after inclusion in the PSS program there was only one MDRTB patient who interrupted treatment because of alcohol addiction.

Since there is some delay in funds transfer, when the next installment is received from the GlobalGiving, the money will be used to provide patients’ children with clothes and school stationery.

Thanks again for your support!

Sincerely,

KNCV Central Asia

• Report Nov 2010 - Jan 2011 (DOC)