[Role of catholic centers in the control of tuberculosis]

This study briefly reports the results of a survey conducted by the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTCP) to asses the Catholic Centres and particularly the leper colonies activities of tuberculosis control. Among the 34 Catholic Centres taking care of the lepers, 11 take part in the NTCP. Within less than 3 years, most of these centres have taken charge of twice more tuberculous patients: the number of cases increased from 540 to 1045. Leprosy prevalence is constantly decreasing, thus multibacillary leprosy cases declared by these centres decreased of 28% from 1992, to 1994. Centres which did not begin conversion would feel this necessity soon. Germs responsible for leprosy and for tuberculosis are "first cousins". Technical and operational approaches for the control of both affections are very much alike. Those considerations logically induce to propose the conversion of antileprosy centres for tuberculosis control. Other arguments are partially exposed in this work. The Central Division knows the existence of 28 Catholic Centres throughout the country, taking charge of tuberculous patients. In 1994, they put more than 1600 patients under treatment, thus 15% of the tubercular in Madagascar. Those Catholic Centres implementing tuberculosis control programme ought set up a "federation" as a privileged interlocutor for the NTCP and for the financial backers when allowing support. Responsibles of the Programme expect to convince Centres of the necessity of conversion and of the interest of tuberculosis control.