World TB Day 2009

In the UK

COMDIS, a founding member of the UK Coalition to Stop TB, has joined other members to deliver a letter to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street today, World TB Day.

The letter calls upon the Prime Minister to provide increased support for TB-HIV co-infection activities globally, as TB continues to be the leading cause of death among people with HIV/AIDS and in the past 15 years, new TB cases have more than tripled in countries with high HIV prevalence.

Achieving universal access to existing TB-HIV interventions by 2015 is essential, necessary and achievable. It will require, however, strong political leadership and sufficient financial resources. It will also require the TB and HIV communities to work in collaboration at all levels.

The UK Coalition to Stop TB and UK Stop AIDS Campaign have joined forces to fight TB-HIV.

Read the press release here and also an article in the Times Newspaper here.

In Bangladesh

The PPP (COMDIS) has taken the lead to observe the World TB day in an empathetic manner. The PPPP (through SEED) worked with the NTP and its partners to draw a comprehensive programme to mark the day. The PPPP will also participate actively with the activities organised by our COMDIS/NTP partners.

The short activity list organised by the PPPP on the World TB day 2009 is here. Also, please see the fact sheet 2009 which has been published on the eve of World TB day 2009.

In Nepal

Posters and pamphlets have been produced in Nepali and distributed through different channels.

A TB suspect identification camp has been conducted at Slums in Kathmandu between 20-23 March.

A member of ASD staff undertook a live interview about TB and World TB day on local FM radio - Kathmandu. This was broadcast at 17.30 local time.

A rally was organised at Pokhara, Nepal - in coordination with District Public Health Office, Pokhara and Regional TB Center, Pokhara.

Supported District public health office Kathmandu to produce leaflets and flex boards. Flex boards will be put in each urban health clinic of Kathmandu Metropolitan.

HERD translated WHO's "World TB day toolkits 2009" into Nepali and distributed to all 75 districts through NTP.

In Pakistan

ASD have been arranging events around TB day in 5 districts where they are working and arranging community events such as a speech competition, sports competition and TB walk.

In Swaziland

We are supporting the National Working Group to conduct communications activities, including activities at primary COMDIS clinic site (St. Philip's clinic), as well as other media activities and a ceremony possibly conducted by a Minister to celebrate the day.

IRIN News reporter is to interview COMDIS staff over 2 days in March. There is potential for outputs such as COMDIS or TB stories to be published.

In Uganda

TB Day - working with Stop TB Partnership, will have a stall set up with images and a notice board at the celebration. Guests of honor include Health Ministers, donors, partners and members of Stop TB Partnership.

Further news and information on World TB Day can be found at the following links:

http://www.worldtbday.org/

http://www.theunion.org/home/the-40th-union-world-conference-on-lung-health.html