This year’s World TB Day events are being launched around the world starting tomorrow, 21 March. Over 40 countries have submitted details of their events for the www.stoptb.org website. Hundreds of events are taking place globally, from international events attended by heads of state and government ministers to community outreach events in some of the most remote corners of the world.

"Global Tuberculosis Control: Surveillance, Planning, Financing" is now available in hard copy and on the WHO website in English only. This is 6th in a series of annual reports by WHO. It assesses progress in TB control and DOTS expansion, particularly in high-burden countries. In addition to the presentation and analysis of case notifications for 2000 and treatment outcomes for the 1999 cohort for all countries reporting to WHO, this year's report contains an analysis of plans, finances, and constraints on DOTS expansion for 22 high-burden countries. A press release will be made available tomorrow at 2pm, which begins:

"A strategy which can cure up to 90% of all tuberculosis cases, and thus is the best chance for controlling the global TB epidemic, is reaching only 27% the world’s TB patients. This is one of the startling discoveries documented in the latest annual World Health Organization report on the disease entitled "WHO Report 2002: Global Tuberculosis Control" which is being released today.

Public health officials estimate that $1 billion will be needed to treat patients and control the TB epidemic in 22 countries that now account for 80% of the world’s TB burden. WHO has found that the governments of these 22 low-income nations are already paying 70% of the cost of TB treatment and control."

The website permits the user to download the report in its entirety, or by chapter. Selected appendices with country-specific data can be downloaded as pdf or Excel files.

The Stop TB Partnership Secretariat is welcoming secondments from Stop TB partner organizations. The team in Geneva needs to be strengthened with expertise in information management and resource mobilization. The terms of reference for the Resource Mobilisation Manager and Information Manager positions can be found on our website.

The Global Working Group on TB/HIV is one of the six working groups of the Stop TB Partnership and an official advisory body to the World Health Organization. The theme of this meeting is the provision of support to countries as they begin implementation of joint TB and HIV/AIDS activities. Its overall objective is to facilitate collaboration between the TB and HIV/AIDS communities at all levels, but especially at country level.

Participants at the meeting will discuss the progress of joint TB/HIV activities, assess the Guidelines for Phased Implementation of Collaborative TB & HIV Activities; analyze practical constraints to joint activities to find solutions; debate the use of mathematical modelling to assist in decision-making; make recommendations to increase public awareness of the size of the TB/HIV problem; consider the importance of partnerships for providing support to countries; and provide country representatives with useful information for obtaining support.

In consultation with country teams from the target countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique and UR Tanzania) mentors chosen from our technical partners, USAID, CDC, IUATLD, KNCV are currently finalising mentorship visit schedules. These visits are meant to assist country teams towards the finalisation of country proposals for phased implementation activities (TB/HIV). They will also provide technical assistance with the planning phase for implementation of collaborative activities at the service level.

Visits are also planned to the countries in which the initial ProTEST pilot projects are sited (South Africa, Malawi, Zambia and Uganda). These visits are meant to assist the country teams in finalising their expansion plans as the next step in implementing collaborative TB and HIV programme activities.

These activities are being co-ordinated by WHO (HQ and AFRO) in conjunction with our technical partners and lead agencies for TB and HIV in those target countries.

The Green Light Committee is an independent technical body that serves the DOTS Plus Working Group in an advisory capacity on programmatic, scientific, and clinical aspects of MDR TB. The institutional members and consultants participate entirely on a volunteer basis and receive no financial benefits for participation. Institutional members and consultants are required to adhere to strict rules of conflict of interest and confidentiality.

The GLC members

• evaluate DOTS-Plus pilot projects in reference to the standards outlined in the Guidelines, including potential participation in pre-approval reviews.

• make recommendations to WHO on specific instructions for projects interested in applying for review by the GLC;

• promote technical assistance, by the agencies/institutions participating in the Working Group and other institutions to DOTS-Plus pilot projects approved and potentially to be approved.

• contribute in monitoring GLC endorsed DOTS plus pilot projects;

• meet at least once a year at WHO HQ, in Geneva, to review and propose revisions to the Instructions, the Guidelines, as well as to review GLC functions and procedures.

GLC members serve for a period of at least two years. The workload is approximately equivalent to 10% of full time work. Selection criteria for membership of the GLC include the following: 1. Extensive experience in DOTS implementation. 2. Knowledge and experience in clinical, laboratory and/or programmatic aspects of MDR-TB. 3. Participation in a national review of a TB programme outside the current country of residence. WHO requests applications from participants of the Working Group interested in serving on the GLC, and will evaluate such applications to determine the composition of the GLC. Final decision will be announced at the Working Group meeting in Tallinn (Estonia), 10-12 April, 2002. If you are interested in being nominated to be member of the GLC, please send your CV with a covering letter expressing why you feel suitable for being a GLC member accompanied by a letter of institutional support. Must be received at the below address by 30 March 2002.

3. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
/events/archive.asp