AKIPRESS.COM - First Deputy Minister of Health of Uzbekistan Asilbek Khudayarov, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent Philip Kosnett, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative Asmus Hammerich announced the delivery of four GeneXpert rapid tuberculosis testing machines to the Ministry of Health, the U.S. Embassy reported on July 17.

The new machines that enable rapid tuberculosis diagnosis are worth $271,000 and their purchase was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). There are currently 17 GeneXpert machines being used in Uzbekistan.

The equipment is capable of identifying tuberculosis and multidrug resistant tuberculosis in less than two hours, allowing patients to begin their treatment on the same day.

Uzbekistan’s efforts to reduce the burden of tuberculosis have resulted in improved tuberculosis control, reduced morbidity and mortality, and a decrease in tuberculosis cases and deaths compared to a decade ago.

Since 1992, USAID has provided more than $356 million in assistance to Uzbekistan.