WHO is releasing new guidance on engagement of communities and civil society to end tuberculosis (TB) which aims to strengthen collaboration and leverage capacities of communities and civil society in line with the End TB Strategy. The guidance emphasizes the complementarity of health systems and community systems and the key roles that people affected by TB should play in planning, decision-making, implementation, and monitoring of the TB response.
To mark the launch of this guidance, WHO is organizing a webinar on 13 October 2023 from 12:30-14:00H CET. The webinar will be opened by WHO’s Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Key speakers include senior WHO leadership, representatives of the WHO Civil Society Task Force on TB and of communities affected by TB, ministries of health, national TB programmes and key partners.
“This guidance is very timely and follows close behind new commitments made by Heads of State at the UN High Level Meeting on the fight against TB last month”, said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Programme. “The guidance is well aligned with the End TB Strategy and the UN political declaration, and outlines the vital role of active and meaningful engagement of civil society, people and communities affected by TB, to improve access to TB services, including through planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and collective accountability. We hope that it will serve as a useful ‘How-To’ guide for countries and other stakeholders.”
Based on WHO’s Primary Health Care framework, the guidance underlines the importance of a conducive policy environment and fair and sustainable financing for community and civil society engagement. The guidance is intended for use by community representatives and health programme managers at all levels, as well as other stakeholders in the health system working to strengthen people-centered TB care. The guidance was developed in collaboration with civil society and other partners.
About the webinar
The #ENDTB Webinar on the new WHO guidance aims to highlight the importance of meaningful community engagement in efforts to end TB from the perspective of communities, civil society, policymakers, international technical and funding organizations. The webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of the guidance and include a discussion of how it can be translated into practice.
Join us, register in advance for this webinar here: https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_goTjx5GZRKupbuF-40NupA#/registration