Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis which is spread by airborne transmission. Although 120 years and 70 years past since the cause of tuberculosis was identified and the first TB drugs were introduced, this disease continues to spread and people die from TB.
Mongolia is one of the seven TB high burden countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region. In 2011, there were 3985 TB cases in Mongolia. Among them 1,723 cases were smear positive pulmonary cases. Mongolia achieved the regional WHO targets for finding and curing TB. Currently, case detection and treatment success rates have reached 72% and 84.0%, respectively.
According to WHO estimates TB prevalence was 331 per 100 000 population and mortality rate was 5 per 100 000 population in 2010 in Mongolia.
The National Stop TB Strategy 2010-2015 was developed and approved at the end of 2009 after the external TB programme review in 2008. The commitment to controlling TB has translated into increasing funding, now covering the cost of first line TB drugs since 2007. A reliable supply of quality-assured through cure by a well-organized system of ambulatory DOT provided by the province and district dispensaries, as well as volunteers delivering treatment in patients’ homes and local restaurants. Participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has been expanded. The initiatives have been launched to address the needs of prisoners and homeless people, and to engage providers in Family Group Practices and the private sector.
