VZCZCXRO0383
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTA #0609 0801154
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201154Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2098
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 0439

UNCLAS ASTANA 000609 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO PREL KPAO KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN - WORLD TB DAY ACTIVITIES 
 
REF:  State 26078 
 
¶1. Summary: Per reftel, to mark World TB Day, USAID and its partner 
organizations, in collaboration with the National TB Center and the 
Almaty City and Oblast Health Departments, are planning a range of 
activities in Kazakhstan.  These activities include announcement of 
a pilot project on treatment of dual HIV and TB infections, a 
conference on TB prevention and treatment in Almaty, a regional 
conference on TB prevention in the town of Talgar in southern 
Kazakhstan, a number of regional contests to raise awareness of TB 
and mobilize communities, and a series of TB-awareness public 
service announcements (PSA's).  End summary. 
 
¶2. On March 19, USAID along with national counterparts participated 
in a national press conference, organized by the National TB Center, 
to announce the upcoming World TB Day and publicize nation-wide 
awareness raising activities. 
 
¶3.  On March 26, there will be a conference in Almaty on TB 
prevention which will include city health care providers, TB 
specialists, and media representatives.  USAID will discuss its 
technical assistance to the National TB Program at the conference. 
 
 
¶4. A regional scientific-practical conference and a concert will be 
held on March 27 in the city of Talgar, in southern Almaty Oblast. 
The theme of the conference is "I can stop TB!"  The conference is 
being organized with USAID funding by Project HOPE, and speakers 
will include the National TB Center, the National Healthy Lifestyle 
Center, USAID, and the Red Crescent Society.  The target audience 
includes oblast health care providers, TB specialists, medical 
students, and the media. 
 
¶5. On March 28, USAID will announce the launch of a pilot project on 
management of dual TB and HIV infections.  The project will run 
through May 2009 and is being implemented by the USAID-funded TB and 
HIV/AIDS prevention projects and the Central Asian TB Partnership, 
together with the Kazakhstan National TB Center and the Republican 
AIDS Center.  The pilot project seeks to improve medical care for 
patients with dual TB and HIV infections and reduce the rate of 
mortality caused by TB and HIV.  The project launch will be 
announced at a special event in Almaty with partner organizations. 
 
¶6. Through February-March, USAID, through Project HOPE and in 
collaboration with national partners (Almaty Oblast TB Dispensary, 
Almaty Oblast Department of Education, NTBC, National Center for 
Healthy Lifestyles) supported a number of competitions to draw 
public attention to the issue of TB, empower health care providers, 
and mobilize the general public.  These included a contest among 
healthy lifestyle teachers, a competition for the best laboratory 
chemist and the best general practitioner in TB diagnosis, and a 
competition for the best TB-information poster. 
 
¶7.  In addition, a series of USAID-funded PSA's to raise awareness 
of TB symptoms and treatment have been prepared by Project HOPE with 
local partners and will be aired on various regional TV stations in 
Almaty Oblast in the latter half of March. 
 
ORDWAY