Guidelines for the prevention and control of tuberculosis in the indigenous peoples of the Region of the Americas

Abstract

Tuberculosis continues to represent a serious public health problem in the Region of the Americas, and even more so in the case of indigenous peoples, where it has an incidence much higher than that of the general population. For the control of tuberculosis in these peoples, it is necessary to respond to their diverse needs from an intercultural perspective, which allows the application of a holistic approach from a plane of equality and mutual respect and considers the value of their cultural practices. In the Region of the Americas, progress has been made in recognizing the need to integrate interculturality in health services, but obstacles persist based on discrimination, racism, and exclusion exerted on indigenous populations and other ethnic groups. To respond to this situation, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has developed these guidelines that, based on an intercultural approach that is in line with the priority lines of the current PAHO Policy on Ethnicity and Health and their practical development in the indigenous peoples of the Region, they constitute an instrument to help implement the End TB Strategy. This publication integrates the accumulated experience of PAHO and the good practices developed by its Member States in recent years, including the discussions and experiences shared in the regional meetings held on the subject, and emphasizes innovation and social inclusion. This requires urgently changing the traditional paradigms, starting from the specific actions that gradually reduce the incidence of TB to move towards multisectoral actions of proven efficacy in the rapid containment of the epidemic (1).