17th Union Conference of the Africa Region

Tuberculosis remains an important public health problem in the world, with over 8 900 000 new cases of tuberculosis of all varieties occurring each year. The incidence of all forms of tuberculosis is estimated at 41 new cases for every 100 000 inhabitants on the American continent, 50 new cases for every 100 000 inhabitants in Europe, but it can reach 356 new cases for every 100 000 inhabitants in Africa.

This curable disease continues to kill over 1 600 000 people every year in world. Death by tuberculosis is estimated at 5.9 deaths for every 100 000 inhabitants per year in the Americas, 7.8 in Europe and 81 deaths for every 100 000 inhabitants per year in Africa.

Confirmation of the diagnosis of the contagious form of tuberculosis remains a fundamental activity of mycobacteria laboratories. It is essential to increase the capacity of mycobacteria laboratories to combat tuberculosis and successfully manage this disease.

We now have effective medication against tuberculosis. Full and regular administration of anti-tuberculosis medication for patients suffering from smear positive tuberculosis is an effective way of preventing the mycobacteria form of tuberculosis that is resistant to the tuberculosis vaccine.

The occurrence of this form of tuberculosis with multi-resistant bacilli that do not respond to tuberculosis vaccines constitutes a major challenge in coming years for initiatives to fight tuberculosis.

Concomitant infection with tuberculosis and HIV makes the fight against tuberculosis a complex one and requires well-structured collaboration of national programmes against both tuberculosis and HIV. Other health challenges such as asthma and tobacco addiction must be added to the list, thereby justifying a practical approach to respiratory health that is well organised, giving greater value to the nursing profession.

The 17^th Conference of the Africa Region of The Union that will be held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 24-26 June 2009 aims to be a springboard for scientific exchange on current subjects in Africa. This event will entail sharing the results of cutting-edge research in our region that will give a boost to the capacities of our teams taking care of the respiratory health of our people.  

The well-organised involvement of community-based associations is now turning out to be an important link in managing health problems in Africa.

Continuous reinforcement of health systems is an essential condition for the success of our programmes to fight diseases and the attempt to establish good health for our people.