Fight against tuberculosis
The theme adopted by the Algerian Committee to Fight Tuberculosis (CALT) as support for the fifth anti-tuberculosis stamp campaign may seem a little triumphant. However, it is realistic if we consider the actions and progress accomplished over the past twenty years in Algeria in the fight against tuberculosis.
The situation in 1962
In 1962, tuberculosis was a priority public health problem, due to the suffering and deprivations suffered by the population during the seven years of the war of liberation and due to the disorganization of poorly distributed, poorly adapted and poorly supervised health services. Cases of contagious tuberculosis were at least 150 per year per 100,000 inhabitants, or 1.5%.
Actions accomplished from 1962 to 1985
1964-1966: Establishment of central anti-tuberculosis organizations with a view to drawing up the epidemiological assessments necessary for the formation of the national anti-tuberculosis program
June 1964: Creation of the Central Tuberculosis Bureau.
December 64: Resumption of activities and research work of the Algerian Society of Pneumophthisiology.
May 1965: Creation of the Algerian Committee to Fight Tuberculosis, a voluntary association of public utility affiliated the same year to the International Union Against Tuberculosis (UICT).
February 1966: First national tuberculosis seminar whose recommendations led to the formulation of the National Anti-tuberculosis Program.
March 1966: Installation of the National Consultative Commission on Phthisiology to monitor the application of the program.
1967-1977: Strengthening the application of the program in the field.
1968-1971: National BCG vaccination campaign, undertaken and carried out successfully.
1969: Creation of the Tuberculosis Laboratory responsible for training, retraining and monitoring microscopists. Publication of two regulatory texts making the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of tuberculosis compulsory and free.
1969-1972-1977: National anti-tuberculosis seminars which contributed to proposing the technical, operational and administrative measures necessary to improve the accomplishment of program tasks in the field. Compliance with these measures was monitored by annual supervision and evaluation seminars which were held regularly at the wilaya level since 1976.
1978-1985: Modernization of the national anti-tuberculosis program
- Integration of BCG vaccination at birth into the expanded vaccination program with coverage of more than 80%.
- Institution and generalization of short-term chemotherapy regimens (6 months), reduction in the length of hospitalization of patients thanks to the effectiveness of short-term treatments.
The situation in 1985
In twenty years, the situation has gradually improved both epidemiologically and organizationally.
Epidemiologically
Cases of contagious tuberculosis are around 50 per 100,000 inhabitants, or 3 times less than in 1962, and all patients are recognized and treated, which was not the case in 1962.
At the organizational level
- Bacteriological proof of pulmonary tuberculosis is now provided in more than 80% of cases.
- The cure rate for tuberculosis is around 80% and that for chemotherapy failure does not exceed 3%.
- The death rate is less than 2% and that of treatment abandonment does not exceed 9%.
- Finally, the vaccination coverage rate at birth is around 85%.
Towards victory
Thus, the theme adopted for the fifth anti-tuberculosis stamp campaign should not be interpreted as a declaration of definitive victory. The actions undertaken and the results obtained since 1962 allow us to estimate that the disease is under control and that victory is near, provided that the control program put in place for twenty years is maintained and strengthened over the coming decades.
The situation in 1962
In 1962, tuberculosis was a priority public health problem, due to the suffering and deprivations suffered by the population during the seven years of the war of liberation and due to the disorganization of poorly distributed, poorly adapted and poorly supervised health services. Cases of contagious tuberculosis were at least 150 per year per 100,000 inhabitants, or 1.5%.
Actions accomplished from 1962 to 1985
1964-1966: Establishment of central anti-tuberculosis organizations with a view to drawing up the epidemiological assessments necessary for the formation of the national anti-tuberculosis program
June 1964: Creation of the Central Tuberculosis Bureau.
December 64: Resumption of activities and research work of the Algerian Society of Pneumophthisiology.
May 1965: Creation of the Algerian Committee to Fight Tuberculosis, a voluntary association of public utility affiliated the same year to the International Union Against Tuberculosis (UICT).
February 1966: First national tuberculosis seminar whose recommendations led to the formulation of the National Anti-tuberculosis Program.
March 1966: Installation of the National Consultative Commission on Phthisiology to monitor the application of the program.
1967-1977: Strengthening the application of the program in the field.
1968-1971: National BCG vaccination campaign, undertaken and carried out successfully.
1969: Creation of the Tuberculosis Laboratory responsible for training, retraining and monitoring microscopists. Publication of two regulatory texts making the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of tuberculosis compulsory and free.
1969-1972-1977: National anti-tuberculosis seminars which contributed to proposing the technical, operational and administrative measures necessary to improve the accomplishment of program tasks in the field. Compliance with these measures was monitored by annual supervision and evaluation seminars which were held regularly at the wilaya level since 1976.
1978-1985: Modernization of the national anti-tuberculosis program
- Integration of BCG vaccination at birth into the expanded vaccination program with coverage of more than 80%.
- Institution and generalization of short-term chemotherapy regimens (6 months), reduction in the length of hospitalization of patients thanks to the effectiveness of short-term treatments.
The situation in 1985
In twenty years, the situation has gradually improved both epidemiologically and organizationally.
Epidemiologically
Cases of contagious tuberculosis are around 50 per 100,000 inhabitants, or 3 times less than in 1962, and all patients are recognized and treated, which was not the case in 1962.
At the organizational level
- Bacteriological proof of pulmonary tuberculosis is now provided in more than 80% of cases.
- The cure rate for tuberculosis is around 80% and that for chemotherapy failure does not exceed 3%.
- The death rate is less than 2% and that of treatment abandonment does not exceed 9%.
- Finally, the vaccination coverage rate at birth is around 85%.
Towards victory
Thus, the theme adopted for the fifth anti-tuberculosis stamp campaign should not be interpreted as a declaration of definitive victory. The actions undertaken and the results obtained since 1962 allow us to estimate that the disease is under control and that victory is near, provided that the control program put in place for twenty years is maintained and strengthened over the coming decades.