Tallinn – Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Special UN Envoy to the Stop Tuberculosis Partnership, Jorge Sampaio, agreed at a recent meeting that Estonia has been successful in the fight against tuberculosis.
The Prime Minister noted that both the tuberculosis monitoring system and a tuberculosis register used in Estonia were of good quality. In addition, the state supplies the means required for treatment. “Our treatment results are very good and we are at a respectable position worldwide,” said Ansip, adding that, unlike other countries, we have adopted an integrated treatment approach and are not giving patients the runaround between different healthcare institutions.
If approximately ten years ago 48 new first-time tuberculosis cases were diagnosed in Estonia per 100 000 people, then the figure last year fell to 28 cases per 100 000 people. “If you continue your current activities you will be able to achieve even better results,” said Jorge Sampaio.
Both Prime Minister Ansip and former President of Portugal Sampaio noted that the most important factor in the fight against tuberculosis was awareness of the problem. The Prime Minister confirmed that Estonia has been and is continuing to tackle this issue on a strategic level.
Jorge Sampaio was elected the President of Portugal in 1996 for the first time and held this position for two terms until March 2006.
_____________________________________
Valitsuse kommunikatsioonibüroo briifinguruum
http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/
press@riik.ee
Comments