The point of view of a low prevalence country: The Netherlands.
The elimination of tuberculosis in the Netherlands is not envisaged before 2025. The evidence presented in this paper suggests that the elimination phase asks for a revision of existing control strategies. In the Netherlands a new role is identified for a voluntary tuberculosis organisation like the Royal Netherlands Tuberculosis Association (KNCV) in the areas of expert consultation, surveillance, post-graduate education and consensus and protocol development. A major challenge for a low prevalence country is the existence of high prevalence countries; KNCV's contribution to the success of the Mutual Assistance Programme of the IUATLD in Tanzania, Malawi, Benin, Kenya and Mali is discussed. A major role is identified for the IUATLD and voluntary organisations like KNCV in WHO's new global programme against tuberculosis. The involvement of a Dutch voluntary organisation, the Medical Committee The Netherlands-Vietnam (MCNV) in support of the national tuberculosis programme in Vietnam illustrates this development.
Royal Netherlands Tuberculosis Association, KNCV, The Hague.
J F
JF
Broekmans
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007391:International Cooperation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration