By ONU
 |
| Photo: IRIN/David Gough. |
GENEVA
- As countries mark World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, WHO is calling for
“global solidarity and action” to support a new 20-year strategy, which aims to
end the global tuberculosis epidemic.
Recent
years have seen tremendous progress in the fight against TB, with over 37
million lives saved, but much more needs to be done. In 2013, 9 million people
fell ill with TB, almost half a million of whom have a multi-drug resistant
disease which is far harder to treat. An estimated 1.5 million people still die
of tuberculosis each year.
The
disease frequently has devastating economic consequences for affected families,
reducing their annual income by an average of 50%, and aggravating existing
inequalities.
“This
is a matter of social justice, fundamental to our goal of universal health
coverage. Each and every man, woman or child with TB should have equal,
unhindered access to the innovative tools and services they need for rapid
diagnosis, treatment and care,” says Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General.
New strategy sets ambitious targets
WHO’s
End TB Strategy, adopted by governments at the World Health Assembly last year,
is designed to drive action in three key areas: integrated patient-centred TB
care and prevention for all in need, including children; bold policies and
supportive systems; and intensified research and innovation.
The
strategy sets ambitious targets of a 95% reduction in TB deaths and a 90%
reduction in cases of TB by 2035. An important milestone to be reached within the
next five years (2020) is the elimination of catastrophic costs for TB patients
and their families. Eliminating catastrophic costs is feasible through making
care more accessible and through financial protection schemes to minimize
medical and non-medical costs as well as income loss.
2015
is seen as a critical year for action to adapt and roll out the strategy in
diverse country settings. Achieving success for the strategy will require the
TB community around the world to work together to leverage alliances and
resources.
“The
progress that has been made in combating TB has been hard won and must be
intensified if we are to wipe out the TB epidemic,” says Dr Eric Goosby, who
was appointed UN Special Envoy on TB in January this year. “The End TB Strategy
offers new hope to the millions of people suffering and losing their lives to
TB each year. It is time to join forces to create a world free of TB.”
The
strategy addresses tuberculosis among vulnerable groups, including people
living with HIV who develop TB. In 2013 there were an estimated 1.1 million
people co-infected with HIV and TB, 360 000 of whom died.
Mobilization needed to fund gaps and
end TB
Persistent
funding gaps in the TB response also need to be filled to drive progress
towards ending the global epidemic. It is vital that resource gaps of USD 2
billion per year for TB interventions and USD 1.39 billion per year for TB
research be filled. Accelerating research and innovation in basic science, new
diagnostics, drugs and vaccines and their rapid uptake, will be critical to
break the trajectory of the epidemic and reach the global targets.
“This
World TB Day should serve to alert and mobilize as many people as possible to
end the epidemic,” says Dr Mario Raviglione, Director of the WHO Global TB
Programme. “We must work with innovators in health, development, civil society
and the private sector to end the burden of this preventable disease.”
Gearing
up to adapt and implement the End TB strategy has already begun. A new action
framework targeting the elimination of TB for low-incidence countries was
launched last year. Regions are working on plans to support countries, and
ministries of health are updating their national plans in line with the
strategy and its milestones.
For
more information:
2015: Gear up to End TB
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário