TB community unites, demands action against disease

By Doris Obinna

The global tuberculosis (TB) community has united to demand action and accountability against the world’s leading infectious killer disease.

New York City’s Battery Park witnessed a vibrant gathering of individuals from across the world as the global TB affected community, civil society, healthcare workers, researchers, and representatives from technical support agencies came together for a community assembly. 

The participants, who have travelled from far and wide, converged in New York City to make their voices heard at the upcoming multi-stakeholder hearing on TB held on May 8 2023 at the United Nations (UN) headquarters. 

The group disclosed that they are determined to ensure that the response to TB is centered on the rights of people affected by the disease. 

“We want to make sure that the community’s voices are heard and guide ongoing negotiations on a political declaration that will be adopted at the UN High-Level Meeting (UN HLM) on TB in September. 

“The focus is not limited to achieving ambitious targets in the political declaration, but also to ensure accountability at the national, regional, and global level.”

An activist from Afro Global Alliance Ghana and person affected by TB, Obiefuna Austin, said: “We cannot ignore the fact that TB remains a debilitating disease that affects millions of people in all countries around the world.

“Shockingly, in 2021 alone, 1.6 million people lost their lives to TB, including 187,000 people living with HIV. It is alarming that TB, a preventable and treatable disease, continues to be a leading cause of death and is expected to soon overtake COVID-19 as the leading cause of death from an infectious disease.

“We have seen before that investing in averting TB deaths can bring significant economic benefits! Every dollar invested in this effort returns an average of $43, making it a smart and impactful investment for communities and economies alike.”

National Coordinator, Network of TB Champions, Kenya, Stephen Anguva Shikoli, stated: “We, the representatives of a global community of people affected by TB, are gathered here to remind the world that behind every TB statistic is a precious life, a loved one, a friend.

“It’s time for us to come together and ensure that everyone has access to the best possible standard of care, and that their human rights are protected at every level. We must act now to stop this preventable and treatable disease from taking any more lives. We will not rest until we see an end to this global crisis.”