When new, effective medicines providing safe treatment for widespread debilitating diseases, it is vitally important to ensure that everyone who needs such medicines has access to them. It was with this aim therefore that TBEC held a regional meeting on civil society capacity building for DR-TB. Existing TB treatments are incredibly gruelling for the patient, but medical innovations (shorter or safer treatments, new medicines, or more exact methods of diagnosis) can genuinely relieve a patient’s suffering. But what use are such innovations if patients aren’t able to access them? What use are new medicines if there’s no way for hospitals to buy them or any way to prescribe that they are needed? Any measurement of the success of innovative treatments has to be countered by an assessment of their accessibility. When everyone has access to new treatments, we can start to talk about how successful they are. Guidelines on DR-TB Treatment The recent WHO recommendations on drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) are the first in a long time that provide a genuine possibility to start to improve the treatment of DR-TB by using innovative and more effective medicines with less debilitating side effects. It is therefore vital that we do not waste time; More…
Regional Meeting on Civil Society Capacity Building for DR-TB treatment in EECA
TB Europe Coalition (TBEC) is organising a regional meeting on capacity building of civil society to advocate for safe and affordable drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) treatment in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This will take place from 18th-20th June 2019 in Kiev, Ukraine. We particularly welcome applications from representatives of patient groups, organizations working with vulnerable groups of people living with TB or TB/HIV, as and representatives of civil society organizations which advocate for access to TB/HIV treatment. The deadline for submissions has passed. Meeting Objectives: Increase understanding of the principles of the new WHO guidelines on DR-TB for achieving quality people-centered and rights-based TB care; Map barriers to the launch of the new WHO DR-TB guidelines in different countries and define the role of civil society in overcoming these barriers; Define ways for civil society actions to build demand among people undergoing TB treatment for the use of the new and safe medicines; Increase understanding of the role of informed consent in relation to treatment options as a human-rights based tool and to support civil society to improve practices of informed consent in their home countries and manage ethical considerations. Increase understanding of tools for monitoring of side More…
CfP: Consultants to develop a framework for the roadmap on cooperation between National TB programs, health providers and civil society in the EECA region (TB-REP2.0)
TBEC announce a call for individual consultants to develop framework for the roadmap on cooperation between National TB programs, health providers and civil society in the EECA region within TB-REP2.0 project TB Europe Coalition invites individual consultants to indicate their interest to develop framework for the roadmap on cooperation between National TB programs, health providers and civil society in the EECA region in the framework of the implementation of the current tasks of the Global Fund Multi-Country Program “Advancing People-Centered Quality TB Care – From the New Model of Care Towards Improving DR-TB Early Detection and Treatment Outcomes” (TB-REP 2.0). The consultant would be expected to: Develop the framework roadmap to be applied in specific countries of the EECA region. The framework roadmap should be informed by the epidemiological, political situation of the East Europe and Central Asia region and be in line with existing recommendations for the region such as of WHO and Stop TB Partnership. Develop the template of the MoU or joint statement between NTPs and civil society. More detailed information is provided in the Request for Expression of Interest and Terms of Reference. Deadlines for this have now closed. This webpage is the product of an activity that More…
(ONLINE FREE WEBINAR) Approaches that work: how civil society can join forces with parliamentarians to sustain the political will to end TB
The TB Europe Coalition are organising a webinar on successful ways civil society can work together with parliamentarians in order to build and sustain the necessary political will in order to end TB. The webinar is organized in partnership with Global TB Caucus, with technical support of Regional Platform – EECA, and will be facilitated by Yuliia Kalancha, Advocacy and Policy manager of the TB Europe Coalition. This webinar will be available online for free, so that anyone can join using this link: https://zoom.us/j/489111093 TB policy making in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) still lacks systematic involvement of civil society organisations (CSOs) and communities affected by TB. While there is s a strong demand for CSOs to ‘sustain the good work’ in terms of direct service delivery, there is also a growing need for civil society and TB affected communities to participate in policy processes, in order to bring about sustained long-term change. Changing TB policy is one of the most effective ways to improve lives of people living with TB. In order to move TB high onto the policy agenda and the policy-making process, civil society needs the engagement of parliamentarians. Forming supportive relationships that extend beyond short-term initiatives More…
Enhancing TB Advocacy, People-Centred Care and Collaboration in TB care between Civil Society Organisations and Healthcare Professionals across the Balkan States
This programme, co-organised by TB Europe Coalition and the European Respiratory Society, will explore ways of enhancing advocacy in the realm of TB, people-centred care (PCC), and collaboration in care between healthcare professionals and civil society organisations within the Balkan States. It aims to support understanding and collaboration between these two groups, to explore the importance of moving from hospital-based to ambulatory care (focused on people-centred care), and to plan collaborative advocacy, with the aim of increasing governments’ priorities regarding TB care. For more information, contact coordinator@tbcoalition.eu.
Giving MDR-TB Patients a New Lease on Life
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) can be successfully treated today; however, the treatment course can take as long as two years and side effects can be severe if not appropriately addressed. The rate of MDR-TB treatment success is largely dependent on a patient’s socioeconomic circumstances as patients from marginalized groups are particularly vulnerable to dropping out of treatment. That is why ensuring patients’ adherence to TB treatment through a patient-centered approach that engages communities and civil society organizations, is critical to the success of MDR-TB treatment outcomes. Consistent with the principles of the WHO End TB Strategy, Project Hope’s interventions in Tajikistan (within the framework of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria TB grant) have provided a robust foundation for building a strong coalition in which communities and civil society organizations play a crucial role in combatting TB. Trained members of civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGO) have a unique capacity through patient education and psychosocial support to reach out to their communities to ensure that TB and MDR-TB patients make full recovery. One such patient for whom Project HOPE’s community-based initiatives were life-changing is Alisher Latipov. A family man from the Spitamen district in Tajikistan’s Sughd region, Alisher More…
The TB Europe Coalition delegation visited Latvia
On 15th – 18th September 2015, three members of the TB Europe Coalition visited Latvia in order to conduct a TB Advocacy workshop, reach to civil society actors in the one of the TB high-priority countries in the EU, and strengthen their voice in a fight against tuberculosis (TB) in the country. The workshop was organised in collaboration with the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Latvia (CDPC) and co-financed by the European Commission. Latvia with an estimated population of 2.35 million has consistently ranked among the countries with the highest rates of MDR-TB in the world. TB incidence in Latvia has decreased from 74/100,000 in 1998 to 31.8/100,000 cases in 2014. In absolute numbers this means 637 new TB cases in 2014 (Chart 1). Incidence of MDR TB cases has also decreased over the years from 332 cases in 1997 to 63 in 2014 (Chart 2). However, Latvia is among the 27 high MDR-TB burden countries in the world and the number of people belonging to social groups at risk of TB is increasing. Among new TB cases, 10% developed MDR-TB and among retreated cases this rises to 26%. Co-infection rates are also high with around 15% of More…
TB Azerbaijan Coalition initiated TB awareness campaign on World Humanitarian Day
TB Azerbaijan Coalition initiated TB awareness campaign on World Humanitarian Day and cheered up Patients with live music by Azerbaijani singers. On 18th August 2015, on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, the members of Azerbaijan TB Coalition (TBAzC) organized TB awareness campaign that accompanied with nice live pop music and some theatre performances by former-patients and young people. The purpose of the event was to teach key affected population more about TB disease, its prevention, treatment and as well as to have an opportunity to talk to TB patients and get acquainted with their problems and wishes and last but not least to cheer them up with live music by popular singers of Azerbaijan. It is acknowledged that with entertaining way of passing information is much more effective than doing it without any visual aids. The event took place in the yard of National Research Institute for Lung Diseases, where hundreds of TB patients receive treatment in wards inside of block of hospital buildings. It is mainly attended by TB patients and their family members who really were in need of such entertaining event. Some audience gathered around the circle and some were watching through their windows of hospital More…
Key positions of civil society and communities from the EECA region on the new Global Fund Strategy 2017–2021
On 12-13 July 2014, civil society and communities’ representatives met in Chisinau, Moldova for the Consultation meeting in order to develop key positions and suggestions that should be reflected in the Global Fund’s strategy for 2017-2021. The consultation was organized by the Communities Delegation on the Board of The Global Fund in co-operation with the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network. Civil society and community participants were representing wide regional networks, such as EHRN, ECUO, ECOM, ENPUD, EWNA, SWAN, TBEC, ITPCru, Delegations on the Board of the Global Fund, such as the Communities Delegation, the Developed and Developing Country NGO Delegations and the EECA Delegation. The delegates concluded their key messages and topics relating to the context of the fighting against TB and HIV in Easter Europe and Central Asia. The summary document: “Key themes and positions on the Global Fund Strategy 2017–2021 as stated by civil society representatives from Eastern Europe and Central Asia” covers the following themes: Transition to domestic funding and Global Fund investment in middle-income countries Continuum of HIV and TB services for key affected populations Treatment for TB, HIV, conditions caused by long-term ART, co-infections and access to medications Human rights, gender equality and vulnerable groups Community More…
Changing the face of TB through the involvement of communities
“Empower civil society and community representatives to generate change from the bottom up”, this is one of the key messages we took away from a session organised by the TB Europe Coalition and WHO Europe on “Community-driven solutions to the MDR-TB epidemic in the European region” at the Union Conference in Barcelona. Indeed, as civil society speaks the language of the people affected by the disease, and is well placed to take over numerous functions at the local level such as case detection, patient support, prevention activities, especially targeting affected communities, its capacities should be strengthened. There is no doubt that by providing basic services, making patients’ voices heard and spreading awareness about TB, civil society can be of great added value to national efforts. Speakers from civil society from Tajikistan and Moldova as well as the National TB Programmes of Bulgaria and Russia presented best practices in the involvement of communities and civil society in TB care. It was widely agreed that a clear shift from perceptions of TB as a medical condition to a human and social problem was urgently needed, especially in the way that conferences and trainings are organised for medical and programme staff. An equal More…
TBEC participates in WHO National TB Programme Review to Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is among the 27 high burden multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) countries in the world and also among the WHO European Region 18 TB High Priority Countries. Upon request by the Minister of Health of Kyrgyzstan and as instructed by the Director of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, TB and M/XDR-TB Programme including the WHO Country Office in collaboration with the National TB Control Programme (NTP) conducted a midterm programme review of TB prevention, control and care activities during the 30 June-5 July 2014 period. Nonna Turusbekova, a temporary adviser to WHO, who is also a member of TBEC steering committee, assessed the engagement of civil society in TB response. Since the previous Programme Review conducted in 2010, Kyrgyzstan has made a significant progress in following and addressing its main recommendations including areas such as MDR-TB, infection control and childhood TB. Political commitment shown by recent and updated national policy documents, such as Den Sooluk (State Health Program), stresses the importance of TB prevention and control in the country context. Diagnosis and treatment of TB and MDR-TB are according to WHO recommendations including restructuring of TB services with prioritizing ambulatory treatment and care. Uninterrupted More…
TB Europe Coalition meets with Ukrainian civil society
Following the end of the TB Europe Network meeting in Kyiv, members of the TB Europe Coalition seized the opportunity of being in Ukraine to meet with local TB civil society organisations (CSOs) and relevant stakeholders in the country. This was the second visit of the TB Europe Coalition to Ukraine, following the first one in November 2010. On 25 April 2014, a group of TB Europe Coalition members met with the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine. The discussion focused on the work of the European Union (EU) to support the fight against TB in the country and, more in general, the assistance offered by the Delegation to local CSOs. The representative of the EU Delegation explained that most of the money that the EU invests in TB in Ukraine is channeled through the EU contribution to the Global Fund and general budget support to the Ukrainian government. In spite of this, there may be opportunities for local non-governmental organisations engaged in the fight against TB to access resources, especially in the field of human rights and vulnerable groups, which remain priorities in the EU-Ukraine relations. In this sense, it was underlined that TB CSOs ill increasingly coordinate More…