TB at European Gates-Moldova

According to the latest WHO report, Moldova ranks second, after Azerbaijan, in Multi Drugs Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases all over the world.
Since 2001 Moldova adopted the Direct Observed Treatment (DOT) strategy and became one of the countries supported by the Global Found.
The number of TB cases notified increased overall by 50% since 2001 and probably in relation to several training for specialized TB staff, rehabilitation of infrastructures such as laboratories and hospitals, and information campaigns all over the country.
According to many citizens TB has never been an internal problem, but seems to be linked with the movements of people towards the country.
In Balti the NGO Speranta Terrei, founded by physicians, social workers and former TB patients trained a number of volunteers to monitor daily home treatment (DOT) of patients. The relationship between volunteers and patient is not limited to treatment observation, and in many cases volunteers help the patient and the family to pay bills, to obtain social benefits, or with food.
Unfortunately Speranta Terrei is an exception; because of the combination of several factors, like unemployment, alcoholism and the attitude of the society towards patients, TB is serious problem and not only for the country itself considering the migrations of people.