Regional strategy to stop tuberculosis in the Western Pacific 2011-2015

Overview

Since the Special Project to Stop TB was established in 1999, much has changed in TB control. The expansion of DOTS (directly observed treatment, short-course), which has been proven to be a very successful and cost-effective treatment strategy, was being implemented by all countries in the Region by 2005. This contributed to the achievement of the intermediate TB control targets of detecting 70% of cases, successfully treating 85% of cases and reaching 100% of the population with DOTS access. Every year, more than 1.3 million patients in the Region are diagnosed with TB and more than 90% of those with infectious forms of pulmonary tuberculosis are successfully treated. As a result of the successful expansion of quality TB services, the number of prevalent TB patients in the Region fell from 3.6 million in 2000 to 2.0 million in 2008. In addition, fewer patients are dying of TB. The Region, thus, made dramatic progress towards achieving the goal set by the 50th Regional Committee for the Western Pacific—to reduce the number of cases and deaths by one half by 2010 from 2000 levels. According to the latest estimates, both the MDG target and the regional goals set in 1999 and 2005 will be achieved.