Department of Health holds Workshop for Tuberculosis Control in Minas Gerais

The State Department of Health of Minas Gerais (SES-MG) started, this Wednesday (24/4), the VI Workshop for Tuberculosis Control in the territory of Minas Gerais.

The event, held in Belo Horizonte, was attended by representatives from SES-MG, the Ezequiel Dias Foundation (Funed), the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), the Ministry of Health (MS) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) , between others.

The SES Undersecretary of Health Surveillance, Eduardo Prosdocimi, highlighted that tuberculosis is a problem that is at the center of the state’s agenda. “Today’s meeting will enable us to discuss advances, strategies and action plans to move forward with public health policies and advance in tuberculosis control in Minas,” he states.

The Leprosy and Tuberculosis coordinator at SES-MG, Maíra Veloso, spoke about the strategies and actions developed over the last year.

“In 2023, we carried out important actions, such as the launch of the State Plan to End Tuberculosis, the institution of the LF-Lam rapid test (test carried out on a urine sample for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis in people living with HIV) and the establishment of the Minas Gerais Committee for the Social Control of the Disease”, detailed the coordinator.

Within the scope of the work proposals defined for 2024, Maíra Veloso highlighted the priority in expanding preventive treatment for tuberculosis, strengthening contact investigation strategies and qualifying diagnosis.

According to the technical reference in Diagnosis of Mycobacterioses from Funed’s Bacterial and Fungal Diseases Service, Élida Aparecida Leal, the Foundation works continuously, and in partnership with the state coordination, to expand the portfolio of tests related to tuberculosis.

“Events like today help all professionals involved to strengthen their knowledge and further qualify the work carried out”, said Élida Leal.

Artemir Coelho de Brito, from the General Coordination for Surveillance of Tuberculosis, Endemic Mycoses and Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria of the Ministry of Health (CGTM-MS) presented the epidemiological scenario in Brazil and highlighted the work carried out in Minas Gerais, especially considering the territorial extension and particularities of each region of the state.

“Often, the work carried out here, focusing on tuberculosis control, goes beyond the territory and becomes a reference for the country”, stated Artemir.

According to the PAHO and WHO national consultant for Tuberculosis and Leprosy in Brazil, Kleydson Andrade, Minas Gerais produces high-level discussions, which signals the state’s capacity to advance, not only in tuberculosis control, but also in elimination of the disease in Minas Gerais territory.

Nurse Marcilane Pereira highlighted the role of civil society in promoting tuberculosis control.

“Mobilization cannot take place without the participation of civil society. That is why it is so important that we are represented today, in this workshop, so that we can reinforce the mobilization of the fight to reduce the numbers of the disease in Brazil and Minas Gerais”, says Marcilane.

In the afternoon, representatives from the MS, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the Faculty of Medicine of Santa Casa de São Paulo participated in the discussion table on Tuberculosis Control in the Children’s Population.

“Previously, studies on tuberculosis were focused on adults, but currently, the WHO already highlights the importance of diagnosing and treating tuberculosis in children and adolescents. This is because, generally, the disease in this group is a direct reflection of the incidence in adults”, explained Maria da Graça Oliveira, collaborator of the CGTM-MS.

The VI Workshop for Tuberculosis Control in Minas Gerais runs until this Thursday (25/4).

Tuberculosis in Minas

In the territory of Minas Gerais, in the last four years, every day, an average of 14 people were diagnosed with tuberculosis, in a total of 20,363 reported cases. Another 1,735 died from the disease in the same period, including general cases and other causes associated with TB (comorbidities). Considering only new cases, which totaled 15,977 occurrences, almost 50% achieved a cure, that is, 7,506 people overcame the disease.

In line with global organizations, which also respond to this year’s campaign theme: “Yes, we can end tuberculosis! ”, the Ministry of Health and the State Department of Health of Minas Gerais established, in 2023, the national campaign to eliminate the disease – Brasil Livre da Tuberculose, and the State Plan for the End of Tuberculosis as a Public Health Problem, strategies for the period 2023-2026.

The Minas Gerais Committee for the Social Control of Tuberculosis, which is part of the Leprosy and Tuberculosis Coordination of the SES, promotes the participation of civil society in prevention actions. advocacy (defense and argumentation in favor of the cause), communication and social mobilization. The CHT is made up of public bodies, non-governmental entities, people affected by tuberculosis and those living with HIV/AIDS or other comorbidities, interested in supporting TB control actions.