Ongoing efforts to end tuberculosis (TB) were in the spotlight at the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA), which closed today. The WHA was held at the UN Palais des Nations, Geneva, from 21-30 May 2023. The theme of this year’s Health Assembly was: WHO at 75: Saving lives, driving health for all.
The WHA was attended by thousands of delegates from over 190 WHO Member States and many partner organizations. It is one of the world’s most important health-related meetings.
HIGHLIGHTS
25 May
Strategic Roundtable: Ending TB by 2030: Universal access to care, multisectoral collaboration, and innovations to accelerate progress and combat antimicrobial resistance
During the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly, a series of strategic roundtables were held. During these sessions, WHA delegates, partner agencies, representatives of civil society and WHO experts discussed current and future priorities for public health issues of global importance.
On May 25, delegates participated in a Strategic Roundtable on Ending TB by 2030: Universal access to care, multisectoral collaboration, and innovations to accelerate progress and combat antimicrobial resistance.
While TB is treatable and curable, it remains among the world’s top infectious killers, claiming 1.6 million lives annually.
The roundtable brought together leaders to deliberate on effective ways to strengthen the fight against TB. The session highlighted challenges and opportunities to reach the target of ending TB by 2030, building on principles of equitable universal access to TB prevention and care, in alignment with WHO’s broader agendas of universal health coverage, antimicrobial resistance and pandemic preparedness.
First-hand reflections from Health Ministers and other leaders were shared on national leadership and innovations toward ending TB, as well as the perspectives and experiences of civil society, donors and partners.
The Minister of Health for Zambia, Dr Sylvia Masebo, highlighted lessons learned from Zambia in combating TB and COVID-TB to strengthen pandemic preparedness. Zambia is among the 30 high TB burden countries that maintained progress despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Atul Gawande, Deputy Administrator, US Agency for International Development, shared the priorities of USAID in Nigeria, Bangladesh and other countries in delivering TB services through primary health care and community engagement.
Mr Setiaji, Deputy Minister for Health Technology, Indonesia outlined Indonesia’s new innovative national health financing strategy, its impact on equitable TB service coverage and the country’s commitment to advance TB research, especially on new vaccine development.
Dr Ethel Leonor Noia Maciel, Vice Minister for Health and Environment Surveillance, from Brazil highlighted how shared responsibility and resources across sectors can help tackle the core drivers of the TB epidemic including advancing TB research and innovation.
Ambassador Z. Czech, Permanent Representative of Poland to UN Office in Geneva shared ongoing efforts and aspirations for the second UN High-level Meeting on TB. Poland and Uzbekistan have been appointed as co-facilitators for the High-level Meeting by the President of the UN General Assembly.
Dr Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director, Stop TB Partnership highlighted how the Stop TB Partnership is strengthening advocacy, awareness and civil society engagement, as well as efforts to close gaps in access to care and stigma.
Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, Regional Director, WHO Regional Office for Europe (EURO) shared regional efforts to fast-track progress to end TB, especially in the face of ongoing conflicts.
Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global TB Programme provided an overview of the status of the TB response and set the scene in advance of the panel.
The roundtable was moderated by Ms Blessina Kumar, a member of WHO’s Civil Society Taskforce on TB, and head of the Global Coalition of TB Advocates.
The discussions at the roundtable informed preparations for the upcoming UN High-level Meeting on TB and beyond. The second UN High-level Meeting on TB in September can provide the political impetus needed to turn the tide in the fight against TB and fast-track progress. WHO has called on leaders to commit to concrete targets as outlined in the WHO Flagship Initiative to end TB between 2023 – 2027. WHO is calling for:
- 90% people reached with TB treatment and TB preventive treatment;
- 100% of people diagnosed with TB tested initially with a WHO recommended diagnostic test;
- all (eligible) people with TB have access to health and social benefits package so they don’t endure financial hardship because of TB disease;
- licensing of at least one new TB vaccine;
- and closing funding gaps for TB implementation and research.
End TB Interactive Exhibit
WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Programme exhibited its latest tools and key documents on ending TB at the Main Hall of the UN Palais des Nations during the World Health Assembly. The exhibition space was designed in an interactive format and included live demos of the Global TB Report app, the Knowledge Sharing Platform (KSP) and Prevent TB app.
KEY EVENTS
23 May
WHA Side-Event: On the road to the second UN High-level Meeting on TB: Progress and challenges 2018-2023
The event was organized by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Poland with technical support from the World Health Organization and highlighted how we can join forces to put a high-level spotlight on efforts to end TB and fast-track progress against this top infectious killer.
Speakers included Ministers and high-level country delegates from Poland, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Argentina, Oman and Brazil, ambassadors, WHO leadership and Regional Directors, civil society, and partners including USAID, Global Fund, Stop TB Partnership and UNITAID. The event was moderated by H.E. Katarzyna Drążek-Laskowska, Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Health for patients from Ukraine, Director, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Health, Republic of Poland and Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Programme.
21 May
End TB at the WHO Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge
On the eve of the World Health Assembly, WHO organized a major health promotion event in Geneva titled ‘Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge’. Staff from WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Programme, countries and partners came together in End TB vests in a show of unity at the event.
MEETINGS WITH COUNTRY DELEGATIONS AND PARTNERS
Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global TB Programme with staff, met with several country delegations during the World Health Assembly including, China and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Brazil, India, the Philippines, United Kingdom and Singapore. Meetings were also held with partners including, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UNITAID.
Advancing youth engagement to end TB through close collaboration with youth-led organizations
WHO’s Global TB Programme actively interacted with the young delegates from the youth-led organizations at the 76th World Health Assembly, focusing on building the capacity of young people to end TB through close collaboration with young medical students and pharmacists and advancing their critical role in ending TB. Representatives of the secretariat of WHO’s 1+1 initiative were invited to speak at the pre-WHA events held by the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF), and the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA). Youth representatives were also engaged as speakers and participated at the WHA Strategic Roundtable and Side Event on ending TB.
WHO 1+1 initiative aims at advancing engagement with young people, and amplifying their voices to end TB. Youth can have a multiplier effect in the fight to end TB, to accelerate progress toward reaching the ambitious goal of ending TB by 2030.
