In May, the World Health Organization released guidance for treating MDR-TB, recommending programmatic use of the TB-PRACTECAL regimen in place of longer existing regimens. Consequently, our teams support the rollout of the new regimen in Belarus under the SMARRTT (six-month all-oral regimens for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis treatment) operational study. By the end of October 2022, 300 patients were enrolled.
We also continued to work in the penitentiary system, supporting the treatment of hepatitis C and TB, and in one location, the provision of mental health care.
As thousands of people continue to travel to Belarus in hopes to cross into the EU, MSF teams offer medical and humanitarian assistance to those injured while attempting to cross or exposed to harsh weather conditions while stranded in the forested border area. MSF continues to advocate for people on the move and calls for greater humanitarian assistance to support their health care needs.
