Chisinau, October 30 (Infotag). The religious organization of Caritas Moldova has launched in Chisinau an information campaign under a slogan of “Be Aware, Use, and Spread” targeted at tuberculosis incidence prevention.

Organization Head Otilia Sirbu told a news conference in Infotag today the campaign focuses on informing young people aged 15-19 about the jeopardy of getting infected with this dangerous disease. The campaign is a reaction to the growing TB incidence among young people, which is largely due to their unawareness about tuberculosis.

Program Coordinator Rodica Iftodi said infected persons who fail to apply for professional medical help at the disease early stage may well die within a couple of years.

In the campaign’s framework, Chisinau College of Medicine students will read lectures at local lyceums and secondary schools on TB nature and prevention. More advanced teenagers will be selected and offered to act as anti-TB volunteers, and 16 of them will be selected for training at audiovisual studios under the auspices of the Media Impact agency of Chisinau.

Victor Savin of the Chisinau Municipal Public Health Department said that 26 new cases of TB incidence was registered among the Chisinau youth in the first 9 months of the year – 11 cases more than in the equivalent period of last year.

“In 2003, 112 citizens of Moldova died of tuberculosis, in 2004 – 127, and in 2005 – 178. The number of TB-infected persons grows each coming year, and one of the serious reasons of the sad statistics is the population’s poor awareness of the disease. This year alone, there were 30 instances when patients died within 24 hours from their first coming to doctor”, the expert said.