There were more than 3,500 persons suffering from tuberculosis in Moldova last year. Worldwide, this disease affected over 10 million people, 1 million of whom are children. In connection with World Tuberculosis Day observed on March 24, the Chisinau Public Health Center staged activities to inform and sensitize the population to the impact of tuberculosis in the central park of Chisinau “Stefan cel Mare si Sfant”. The participants in the event danced, did physical exercises alongside professional trainers and took part in a drawing contest, IPN reports.

Even if tuberculosis affected fewer persons in 2016, compared with 2015, the situation continues to be alarming, stated Luminita Suveica, head of the Chisinau Public Health Center. “The problem remains not only a medical one, but also a medical-social one that requires the involvement of the whole society. Those who are near a person who has been coughing for over three weeks, has fever and loses weight suddenly should insist that this person see a doctor,” stated Luminita Suveica. 

Epidemiologist Zinaida Ceban recommended the mothers to immunize the children against tuberculosis and urged everyone to lead a healthy lifestyle. “Sport and healthy alimentation protect us from tuberculosis,” she said.

The signs of tuberculosis include weakness, sudden loss of weight, nocturnal transpiration and coughing for more than three weeks. A cure for tuberculosis costs about 3,000 lei. If a form of multidrug resistant TB is developed, with about 500 such cases being reported last year, the costs can rise to 200,000 lei.

In 2016 tuberculosis claimed 380 deaths in Moldova.