The event was jointly held by the Central Lung Hospital, the National Tuberculosis Control Programme, and the Patient Support Foundation to End Tuberculosis (PASTB) as part of activities in response to World Tuberculosis Day (March 24).
To join the campaign, people can text the message “TB” to 1402 between March 22 and May 21 to donate VND20,000. The funds raised will be used to buy health insurance cards for poor TB sufferers.
Vietnam is home to more than 20,000 people with tuberculosis (TB) who lack health insurance cards, said the Ministry of Health. Despite support from the State budget, many impoverished people are still unable to afford health insurance while the poor account for a high proportion of those with TB.
World TB Day 2021 has the theme “The clock is ticking”. WHO calls for a strengthened response to tuberculosis through the implementation of priorities, aiming to get the world on track to meet set targets by 2022.
To encourage people nationwide to support TB sufferers, the Central Lung Hospital, the National Tuberculosis Control Programme, the Patient Support Foundation to End Tuberculosis (PASTB) and their partners have launched a fundraising campaign.
