Action: World TB Day (24 March): On the move against tuberculosis towards elimination

[bobby ramakant]

Action: World TB Day (24 March): On the move against tuberculosis towards elimination

Source: Stop TB Partnership

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TRANSFORMING THE FIGHT TOWARDS ELIMINATION

 

Dear TB Competence members,

 

For World TB Day 2011 we enter the second year of a two-year campaign, "On the move against tuberculosis" whose goal is to inspire innovation in TB research and care.

 

This year's campaign challenges us to look at the fight against TB in an entirely new way: that every step we take should be a step towards TB elimination.

 

The campaign is inspired by the ambitious new objectives and targets of the Global Plan to Stop TB 2011-2015: Transforming the Fight-Towards Elimination of Tuberculosis, which was launched by the Stop TB Partnership in October 2010. This new plan, for the first time, identifies all the research gaps that need to be filled to bring rapid TB tests, faster treatment regimens and a fully effective vaccine to market. It also shows public health programmes how to drive universal access to TB care, including how to modernize diagnostic laboratories and adopt revolutionary TB tests that have recently become available.

 

The campaign will focus once again on individuals around the world who have found new ways to stop TB and can serve as an inspiration to others. The idea is to recognize people who have introduced a variety of innovations in a variety of settings.

 

WORLD TB DAY BLOG

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Members are encouraged to speak their world online at the World TB Day blog, go to: http://www.worldtbday.org/

 

DOWNLOAD RESOURCES ON WORLD TB DAY

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To download resources on World TB Day like campaign documents, key messages, posters etc, go to: http://www.stoptb.org/events/world_tb_day/2011/resources.html

 

KEY MESSAGES ON WORLD TB DAY (Source: Stop TB Partnership)

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IT'S TIME TO BREAK THE BARRIERS TO A WORLD FREE OF TB

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TB programmes around the world save millions of lives every year, but we need to move faster. If we fail to step up action today, about 40 million people will become ill with TB and at least eight million will die unnecessarily between now and 2015. TB is an ancient disease, but today it is curable. In the 21st century, no one should die from TB.

 

IT'S TIME FOR AN AMBITIOUS NEW RESEARCH AGENDA

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Recent research has brought us new rapid diagnostics, which are coming to market this year. More research will take us to the next critical step: a simple point-of-care test that can be used in any basic health care setting and requires little technical knowledge. New drugs for MDR-TB are on the horizon. A stronger investment will make them available as soon as possible. We will not eliminate TB without a vaccine that is safe and effective in preventing the disease in people of all ages, but vaccine research is vastly underfunded. Funders need to step up their contribution to TB research today to achieve zero TB deaths tomorrow.

 

IT'S TIME FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMMES TO REACH ALL TB PATIENTS

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A third of people with TB are not reached with accurate diagnosis and appropriate care. Civil society, all health care providers – including those in the private sector – and businesses need to team up to drive universal access to TB care. It is a goal that also requires modernizing laboratories, ensuring reliable access to high-quality drugs and taking action to mobilize additional resources.

 

IT'S TIME FOR AMBITIOUS NEW GOALS ON MDR-TB TREATMENT

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We know what is needed to scale up MDR-TB treatment: strong commitment by governments, a reliable supply of high-quality drugs, an engaged health workforce and communities. We can reach the goals of the Global Plan to Stop TB 2011–2015 and push beyond them. By 2015, all people with MDR-TB should receive accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

 

IT'S TIME TO MOVE RAPIDLY TOWARDS ZERO DEATHS FROM TB/HIV

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Our goals are clear. By 2015, half as many people should die from HIV-associated TB. One hundred per cent of TB patients should be tested for HIV and 100% of people in HIV care services should be screened for TB. All people living with HIV should be receiving preventive treatment or anti-TB drugs as appropriate. The year 2011 is the time for a massive scale-up to realize universal access to TB/HIV services.

 

For more information, go to: www.stoptb.org