La experiencia Venezolana con su sistema de redes de lucha antituberculosa

Abstract

This article describes the development of the Venezuelan tuberculosis control services. They are regarded as an integral part of the health services and are organized at three levels: the tuberculosis dispensary attached to the health services in urban areas (primary network); the public health phthisiological services under the direction of physicians who are not phthisiologists, attached to health services for communities with a population of between 5000 and 15000 (secondary network); and services which can be provided to the basic units of the health system -the rural medical posts (tertiary network)

The ideas underlying the system and the type of training given personell are explained, as are the limitations inherent in samll services, which nevertheless have made it possible to extend modern control methods to the population covered by 208 medical posts and 70 health centers or class B or C health units, or 62 per cent of the total population

Statistical data on tuberculosis morbidity and mortality are given for the two ten year periods 1942-1951 and 1952-1962(AU)