Health

WORLD TB DAY 2001

Eight million people fall ill with tuberculosis (TB) each year in the world, and three million die of this disease. In Azerbaijan, 4672 people fell ill with TB in 1998 according to figures of the World Health Organization. In Azeri prisons alone more then a thousand people are thought to be ill with TB. Prisoners do not stay in prison forever, they are released and put their family and neighbors at risk.

Today, 600 prisoner-patients are taking treatment, and the Ministry of Justice with the ICRC plan to halve this number.

INT'L REHAB EXPERIENCE TO BE STUDIED

Azeri specialists are expected to take part in the 7th international congress on "Rehabilitation and immune rehabilitation in medicine" due in New York April 13-20, according to the senior doctor of the national center of rehabilitation of the handicapped Elchin Husseinov.

The purpose of the congress is to promote the spread of international experience in the area of rehabilitation of the disabled. According to Mr. Husseinov, one of Azerbaijan's representatives at the congress, the republic is so far using the experience of Russia and Ukraine.

The rehab center in Azerbaijan was set up in 1986 and provides treatment to 600-800 handicapped a year. The center has no analogs in the Caucasus, he said.