TB Becomes Global Battlefield in Upcoming Years

By Chhay Sophal
Cambodia News

Phnom Penh (26 September 2018): Tuberculosis (TB), a leading infectious disease killer, has infected people in all ages, genders, racists and religionists across the globe where health and TB communities have been actively battling, preventing, and curing.

According to a report released by UNOPS at the time for the United Nations first-ever High-Level Meeting on TB in New York City this week, though deaths caused by TB dropped and million lives saved in recent years, “still, with over nine million new cases being diagnosed each year, there is much to be done.”

“…we are shining a light on some of the lives that have been affected by this disease: From the women, men and children who have been infected, and the families and friends who suffer because a loved one is ill, to the tireless health-workers who battle TB every day,” the report reads.

Heads of States and government leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) high-level meeting on TB in New York on 26 September to accelerate efforts in ending TB and reach all affected people with prevention and care.

According to UNGA Guide 2018, the theme of the meeting is “United to end tuberculosis: an urgent global response to a global epidemic”.

The high-level meeting should result in an ambitious Political Declaration on TB endorsed by Heads of State that will strengthen action and investments for the end TB response, saving millions of lives, the Guide reads.

This week, leaders from public, private, and civil society sectors, as well as journalists, TB survivors, academics, donors, including stars, have also been in a TB Innovation Summit in New York co-hosted by the Stop TB Partnership (STBP), Johnson and Johnson (J&J), the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the UN Foundation (UNF). The Summit have brought together a unique mix of, to discuss the importance and potential of innovation – from research and development (R&D) to delivery – and what it will take to truly modernize the approach to this ancient disease.