Brussels, 01/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - The countries of Europe must all come together to tackle tuberculosis and the increasing frequency of multi-drug resistant strains of the disease.
That was the key message sent out by the first Eastern Partnership Ministerial Conference on tuberculosis and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis organised in Riga on Monday 30 on Tuesday 31 March by the Latvian Presidency, in partnership with the European Commission, World Health Organisation (WHO) and NGOs. Senior representatives of the European institutions, EU candidate and Eastern partnership countries, and world-renowned experts took part in this conference, which finished with the adoption of the “Riga Declaration on Tuberculosis”.
The aim of the conference was to examine what was to be done collectively to respond to this health challenge affecting European countries. It was particularly keen to make a contribution to reducing the costs generated by tuberculosis and the multi-drug resistant strain of the disease and, in the long term, to eradicating the disease and its multi-resistant strains in the EU, EFTA and Eastern Partnership by putting in place sustainable health systems and enhancing commitment and raising political awareness at the highest level. Another objective was to encourage multi-sectoral and inter-regional approaches to prevention and anti-tubercular care, particularly by highlighting at-risk sections of society and cross-border transmission, whilst respecting human rights.
Tuberculosis is a disease that clearly illustrates the social inequality that exists between different communities and, according to Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis, the most disadvantaged sections of society are those most affected. He added: “It is essential to consider it in a broad perspective and tackle the social conditions that lead to the spread of the disease. We have to pool our efforts and eradicate tuberculosis by 2050”.
The targets set out by the Declaration are to reduce tuberculosis rates by 50% and tuberculosis-related deaths by 75% by 2025. Latvian Minister for Health Guntis Belevics considers that, if this objective is to reached, “it is important to provide a sustainable approach to tuberculosis control, ensure cross-sectoral cooperation in working with at-risk groups, and cross-border cooperation for reducing the spread of tuberculosis at both national and European level”. (Isabelle Lamberty)