The year 2023 is going to be critical for all of us engaged in tuberculosis (TB) work and should be championed as the ‘year of hope’ to get full support, attention, and energy for a collective ‘YES! We Can End TB’. The theme brings attention to TB and our collective power to end TB by 2030 and therefore reach the Sustainable Development Goals. Let us build on the fantastic work done in 2022 by many TB High Burden Countries to recover from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic while ensuring access to new diagnostics, new treatment regimens, digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) for the TB response. It centers on the increased engagement of those affected by TB, communities and civil society that is leading the movement towards ending this disease.
There are several key areas to focus on such as financial needs to scale up implementation and speed up, research and development of new tools including a
new TB vaccine, access to new rapid molecular diagnosis and to new shorter and more efficient treatment regimens, TB prevention, TB in children, strengthening and funding Communities, Rights and Gender (CRG) work.
This year’s campaign aims to contribute to boosting the global TB awareness and ensure the endorsement of a strong political declaration and maximum participation by the Heads of State and Heads of Government at the upcoming UNHLM on TB in
September 2023.
The Stop TB Partnership and all partners are calling on all those involved in the fight against TB to unite under this overarching theme. World leaders must redouble efforts to end TB and save lives.
YES! WE CAN END TB
