Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, December 11, 2019 – Today the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, officially launched three new tuberculosis projects that will provide smart, targeted investments to further reduce the burden of TB on Kazakhstanis.  The Vice-Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Lyazat Aktayeva; U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan, William H. Moser; and the WHO Representative in Kazakhstan Oleg Chestnov participated in the ceremony. 

Kazakhstan has made great strides in reducing TB cases and TB deaths, thanks in part to the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Health, the U.S. government, and international partners. However, multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) continues to be a significant issue in Kazakhstan, where 26 percent of all new TB cases are resistant to two of the most powerful first line TB drugs. Under USAID’s Global Accelerator to End TB, the U.S. government is supporting innovative, cost-effective ways to contribute to the efforts of the National TB Program to combat MDR-TB in Kazakhstan. In coordination with the Kazakhstan Ministry of Health, USAID has launched three new projects that will provide technical assistance to the Government of Kazakhstan to reduce costs of TB medicines and diagnostic equipment, ensure high-quality TB medicines are available and accessible, and to roll out the most recent World Health Organization (WHO) protocols and recommendations related to MDR-TB diagnosis and treatment. 

During the event, U.S. Ambassador Moser stated, “We applaud the Government of Kazakhstan for their outstanding work to support tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis and care in the country. By working together, we can continue to make the changes that will save lives and keep families healthy in Kazakhstan, across this region, and around the world.”

USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID’s work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience. To know more, visit: https://www.usaid.gov/central-asia-regional and USAID/Central Asia’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/USAIDCentralAsia.