Doha, June 21 (QNA) - The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has unveiled Qatar's National Tuberculosis Plan 2026-2030, which is set to be launched in the near future as a comprehensive roadmap toward the eradication of tuberculosis.

In this context, the Ministry organized a workshop in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop the National Tuberculosis Plan 2026-2030, with the participation of representatives from government and private healthcare institutions, as well as partners involved in tuberculosis control efforts in the State of Qatar.

In his opening remarks, Director of the Health Protection and Communicable Diseases Control Department at the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Eid Al Romaihi, emphasized that the National Tuberculosis Plan was developed in cooperation with relevant national entities and the World Health Organization. He noted that the plan aims to sustain the progress already achieved, address emerging challenges, and intensify efforts to eliminate tuberculosis.

Dr. Al Romaihi explained that the plan provides a comprehensive roadmap for tuberculosis eradication, with a focus on priority groups while taking into account Qatar's unique demographic characteristics and population mobility patterns.

He also stressed the importance of continued collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the National Tuberculosis Plan, which seeks to reduce the burden of the disease and promote public health in Qatar.

The workshop aimed to support the development of the National Tuberculosis Plan, raise awareness of its strategic objectives, and strengthen national efforts to prevent and combat tuberculosis in line with the World Health Organization's strategy to eliminate the disease. It also sought to support Qatar's efforts to reach the pre-elimination stage and enhance cooperation among relevant stakeholders in implementing the national plan.

The workshop was led by Director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases and Head of the Global Tuberculosis Network, Professor Giovanni Battista Migliori, and Regional Adviser for Tuberculosis, HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections at the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Martin van den Boom.

Participants discussed a number of key topics, including a review of the global and regional tuberculosis situation and an assessment of the current status of the disease in Qatar. The workshop also examined the rationale behind the development of the National Tuberculosis Plan and reviewed its strategic objectives, implementation mechanisms, and performance-monitoring indicators.

In addition, discussions focused on strategic interventions to enhance early case detection, expand screening and treatment for latent tuberculosis infection, and strengthen contact tracing among high-risk groups. The workshop further reviewed measures aimed at reducing tuberculosis incidence, minimizing the emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis, and strengthening preventive treatment programs, thereby supporting Qatar's efforts to reach the pre-elimination stage.

Participants underscored the importance of continued cooperation among relevant authorities and national and international partners to support the implementation of the National Tuberculosis Plan and monitor its performance indicators, thereby strengthening efforts to combat the disease and achieve the plan's objectives in the coming years. (QNA)