Central Asia launches joint campaign to eliminate tuberculosis by 2030
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan unite under WHO-led effort to eradicate TB, including drug-resistant strains.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) – All five Central Asian countries have launched a landmark regional campaign to eliminate tuberculosis by 2030, in coordination with the World Health Organization and global health partners.
The initiative, titled Central Asia Free of Tuberculosis, aims to eradicate both standard and drug-resistant TB through expanded testing, modern treatments, and stronger healthcare systems.
Led by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the campaign includes backing from the Stop TB Partnership, the Global Fund, and various civil society organizations. The five nations—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—signed a declaration in Astana to cooperate more closely on TB control, focusing on early diagnosis, innovative treatment, and integration into primary healthcare systems.
The effort marks a significant step forward for a region that has already made substantial progress over the past decade. Expanded use of new treatments and improved surveillance systems have helped reduce TB incidence, but health authorities now aim to accelerate momentum toward full eradication.
Key targets of the campaign include ensuring that 95% of new and recurring TB cases are diagnosed using rapid WHO-endorsed tools already implemented across the region. It also seeks to expand access to shorter, injection-free treatments for drug-resistant TB—regimens with proven success rates exceeding 85%.
Countries are also preparing their health systems to adopt new TB vaccines as soon as they become available. Additionally, the campaign promotes integration of TB diagnosis and treatment into each country’s primary healthcare system, with technical assistance from WHO’s Primary Health Care Centre in Almaty.
Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, praised the initiative as a sign of strong political leadership. “Central Asia is closer than ever to ending TB,” he said, “but maintaining that momentum requires continued investment and tackling stigma to ensure equitable care.”
The campaign sets a major milestone for public health in the region, with early outcomes expected by 2027 and a long-term goal of transforming Central Asia into a TB-free zone by the end of the decade.
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