AS the world prepares to converge at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis (TB), Zimbabwe has launched the Accountability Report Of TB-Affected Communities & Civil Society: which prioritizes closing the Deadly Divide.
By Michael Gwarisa in Chinhoyi
The United Nations General Assembly will hold the second high-level meeting on the fight against tuberculosis on 22 September 2023 under the theme “Advancing science, finance and innovation, and their benefits, to urgently end the global tuberculosis epidemic, in particular, by ensuring equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment and care.”
Speaking at the National Level United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) dialogue in Chonhoyi which also coincided with the launch of an Accountability report of TB-Affected communities & civil society that was hosted by the Stop TB Partnership Zimbabwe, Dr Donald Tobaiwa, the Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation (JHWO) Executive Director said the report sets out recommendations for policymakers across six areas for action, which must be reflected within the UNHLM on TB political declaration, national policy frameworks, and investments.
Affected communities and civil society want to see action to close gaps in TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care by reaching all people with TB, focusing on the most vulnerable and marginalized and getting the basics right,” said Dr Tobaiwa.
He added that the affected communities want the TB response to be equitable, gender-responsive, rights-based, and stigma-free, with TB-affected communities and civil society at the center by 2025.
“There is need to accelerate the development, rollout of and access to essential new tools. by championing needs-based innovation, coordinating research, and planning for equitable, rapid roll-out from the start of the research process.
“Invest the funds necessary to end TB by prioritizing public investment in health, leveraging synergies between different agendas, building new partnerships and mobilizing new funding streams.”
Following the devastation and disruption of TB services by the COVID-19, Dr Tobaiwa said affected communities were demanding for the Prioritize TB in pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPPR), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and universal health coverage (UHC) by ensuring alignment between policy frameworks, funding streams and accountability mechanisms. He also said there is need to commit to multisectoral action, decisive leadership and accountability through high-level attendance at the UNHLM on TB on September 22, 2023, ambitious policy reforms and robust accountability involving TB affected communities.
The UN HLM on TB was the fifth time the UN has called for a high-level meeting devoted to a health issue, the first being the 2001 Special Session on HIV/AIDS, followed by UN HLMs on Non-communicable Diseases, Ebola, and Antimicrobial Resistance.
Dr Mkhokheli Ngwenya, The World Health Organisation Zimbabwe TB Focal point said, “The aim of the meeting is to accelerate progress towards End TB; securing concrete commitments for first time from highest level government leaders for: People reached with TB and MDRTB care and prevention within frame of UHC and leaving no one behind Increased financing (especially from domestic sources). Intensified research & innovation with new tools. Accountability for multisectoral response, using WHO framework.”
Meanwhile, Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Acting Director, TB and Leposry Department, Dr Fungai Kavenga said, “Country is making progress- Declining TB Incidence There is need for; scaling up best practices, innovations and highly, sensitive tools, strengthening community TB systems and CLM, maintaining ambitious targets and focusing on neglected risk groups and provision of TB prevention interventions.”
