36th Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting 2023 Chaired by Union Health Minister

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Stop TB Partnership: The Stop TB Partnership is a global health organization that aims to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) as a public health problem worldwide. Stop TB Partnership is also important for UPSC Prelims Exam 2023 and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 2- Governance Measure to ensure health and wellbeing of people; International Relations, International Grouping having India as a participant).

Stop TB Partnership Board in News

During the 36th Board Meeting of the Stop TB Partnership, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, expressed that India is prepared to take a leadership role in the collaborative effort to eliminate TB in the Global South and serve as a strong voice for this cause.

With this, he also highlighted India’s determination to work together with other countries to develop effective TB control strategies and contribute to the global effort to end TB as a public health threat.
At 36th Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting 2023, an “Accountability Report of TB-affected Communities & Civil Society: Priorities to Close the Deadly Divide” was also launched.

Stop TB Partnership Board

The Stop TB Partnership is managed by a Board which is assisted by two permanent Board Committees: the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee. The Governance Manual defines the responsibilities, powers, and functions of these Committees.

Objective: The Board of the Stop TB Partnership takes charge of-
- Providing guidance and leadership, overseeing the execution of agreed policies, plans, and initiatives of the Partnership, and
- Ensuring coherence among the different components of the Stop TB Partnership.
Dual Responsibilities: The Stop TB Partnership Board has a dual responsibility.
- First, it is accountable to the global TB community for building awareness, facilitating agreement on strategy, and identifying crucial strategic matters impacting TB.
- Second, it is responsible to the Secretariat for establishing strategic direction, offering supervision and guidance, and sanctioning budgets.

Stop TB Partnership

The Stop TB Partnership is a hosted entity of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The Stop TB Partnership was established in 2001 and is hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Secretariat: The Stop TB Partnership’s Secretariat is situated in Geneva, Switzerland.
Mandate: Its mandate involves bringing together 1,600 partner organizations across the world to lead global advocacy towards ending tuberculosis (TB).

Stop TB Partnership Activities

The Stop TB Partnership’s activities include:

Advocacy and resource mobilization: The partnership advocates for increased funding and political commitment to TB control, and works to raise awareness about the disease and its impact on communities.
Technical assistance: The partnership provides technical assistance to countries to help them develop and implement effective TB control strategies.
Research and development: The partnership supports research and development of new tools and strategies for TB control, such as new drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines.
Monitoring and evaluation: The partnership monitors progress in TB control, collects data on TB cases and deaths, and evaluates the impact of TB control programs.

Stop TB Partnership Significance

The Stop TB Partnership, in conjunction with its partners, represents a joint effort that is revolutionizing the battle against TB worldwide. The Partnership is working towards-

Empowering communities and key populations,
Enhancing community systems and promoting community leadership in the TB response, and
Ensuring that responses are people-centered, rights-based, and transformative in terms of gender.

About Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium. The disease spreads when individuals who have TB expel the bacteria into the air, typically through coughing.

While TB mostly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB), it can also affect other areas of the body.
Adults make up the majority of TB cases, with more men affected than women. About a quarter of the world’s population is infected with TB.
TB is a communicable disease that poses a significant threat to global health, ranking as one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, TB was the top cause of death attributable to a single infectious agent, surpassing HIV/AIDS.

Fight against Tuberculosis in India, Steps Taken by the Government

As India is a signatory to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), our national development agenda has been aligned to eradicate TB from the grassroots level.

Eliminating TB by 2025

Eliminating TB by 2025 is envisaged to make a TB-free India with zero deaths and zero TB disease. Timeline for ending TB under ‘Eliminating TB by 2025’ is ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) timeline of 2030.

TB Mukt Bharat Campaign

The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan is a program designed to unite all community stakeholders in supporting individuals receiving TB treatment and to accelerate India’s progress towards eliminating TB.

The primary objective of the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan is to renew the mission of eliminating TB from India by 2025.
To achieve this goal, the initiative encourages participation from various groups, including individuals, organizations, corporations, cooperatives, elected officials, and NGOs.
These groups can provide support by adopting individuals with TB as part of the program.

National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP)

The Indian government has established the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) as part of the National Health Mission (NHM). The program has adopted a National Strategic Plan with the aim of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to TB by 2025, which is five years earlier than the global targets. The objectives of the National Strategic Plan include-

Early diagnosis of TB patients,
Prompt treatment with quality-assured drugs and treatment regimens,
Engagement with patients seeking care in the private sector,
Prevention strategies such as active case finding and contact tracing in high-risk or vulnerable populations, airborne infection control, and
A multi-sectoral response to address social determinants.

Gendered Approach to Ending TB

A gendered approach to ending TB: we must adopt a comprehensive approach to ending TB–including a shift towards gender-sensitive and gender-specific interventions.

Gender-Responsive TB Care: Awareness regarding this is being spread through a series of National and Regional Conferences, jointly organized by the Ministry of Women & Child Development, and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

‘c-TB’, Made in India TB Test

“c-TB” refers to the newly approved TB infection skin test made in India. India has approved a new TB infection skin test called “c-TB,” which is made in India. This cost-effective tool will not only benefit India but also other countries with a high burden of TB.

Stop TB Partnership FAQs

Q. What is the Stop TB Partnership?

A: The Stop TB Partnership is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating tuberculosis (TB) as a public health problem worldwide.

Q. When was the Stop TB Partnership founded?

A: The Stop TB Partnership was founded in 2001.

Q. Where is the Stop TB Partnership based?

A: The Stop TB Partnership is based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Q. What is the goal of the Stop TB Partnership?

A: The goal of the Stop TB Partnership is to eliminate TB as a public health problem worldwide.

Q. Who are the partners of the Stop TB Partnership?

A: The Stop TB Partnership has over 1,600 partner organizations around the world, including governments, civil society organizations, international agencies, and the private sector.

Q. What are the core activities of the Stop TB Partnership?

A: The core activities of the Stop TB Partnership include advocacy and communication, resource mobilization, technical assistance, and capacity building.

The Road to Ending Tuberculosis, The Hindu Editorial Analysis