Purpose

Following our visit to Chechnya in 2005 it emerged that the spread of tuberculosis was one of the major health concerns facing the Chechen people. Children are particularly vulnerable. Then local resources were woefully inadequate and to this day more help from the outside is still needed to deal with this epidemic.

Chechnya remains virtually a humanitarian no go area. As outlined below Medical Aid and Relief for Children of Chechnya, MARCCH has played a modest but vital part in meeting some of the more urgent needs that an epidemic like TB requires.

With your help we can achieve a great deal more and prevent a lot more amongst the young from falling victim to this scourge and to help restore health to those who can be helped.

Actions taken

In 2006: MARCCCH arranged for the supply of 300,000 TB syringes to be supplied to the Chechen Ministry of Health Ministry, with the Ministry supplying the tuberculin to be used as part of a comprehensive testing programme throughout Chechnya. This was obviously intended as a first step in effecting a subsequent full vaccination programme, with particular emphasis on children.

In 2009: MARCCH contributed to major TB programmes being carried out in clinics run by Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) in the region by:

• Funding the provision of UV lamps, which like regular sunlight kill TB bacilli in the air, in TB wards in the different TB dispensaries.
• Funding the building of a playground  in the grounds of a TB dispensary in Grozny
• Supplying paediatric patients and staff with masks, which are badly needed in ordinary hospital wards, where cross infection is very common.
• Supplying toys to be used to allow children in a mental health facility in the neighbouring republic of Ingushetia to participate in activities forming part of a psycho-social programme to stimulate children and help their recovery.