Topic: 2024-Tuberculosis
Country: Yemen
Delegate Name: Jacob Marabanian
Tuberculosis is a significant public health challenge in Yemen, exacerbated by ongoing conflict, widespread poverty, and a fragile healthcare system. The country has one of the highest Tuberculosis burdens in the Middle East, with a high prevalence rate and low treatment success rates. The situation is further complicated by limited access to healthcare services, including diagnostics and treatment, especially in remote and conflict-affected areas. The impact of Tuberculosis in Yemen is profound, leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. Efforts to control Tuberculosis in Yemen face numerous challenges, including funding shortages, weak healthcare infrastructure, and limited resources, highlighting the urgent need for sustained international support and investment in Tuberculosis control programs to mitigate the burden of this disease in the country.
TB may have increased from 2021 to 2022 because of increased focus on COVID-19 research and stopping COVID-19. Factors such as poverty, overcrowding, malnutrition, and lack of access to health care can also increase the risk of TB transmission and disease progression. Reducing the financial burden of tuberculosis (TB) treatment is crucial to ensure that individuals can access and complete the necessary treatment without facing financial hardship. A few ways to reduce the financial burden could be to have Governments and organizations provide TB treatment free of charge or at a subsidized cost to ensure that cost is not a barrier to accessing care. A second way is Social Protection. This is because implementing social protection mechanisms, such as cash transfers or social insurance, can help mitigate the economic impact of TB treatment on individuals and families. All of these policies and reasons have affected the world and Southeast Asia especially.
