The theme stresses the urgent need of access to TB treatment and cure for all TB patients as part of realizing their 'right to the highest attainable standard of health' and should be seen as a further push for DOTS expansion.

The theme has been developed in close collaboration with partners, including WHO regional and country offices, and communication experts in the field. 'DOTS: TB cure for all' reflects the important role of governments and the private sector in providing TB drugs and services. It points to the need for health services to be patient-centred and non-discriminatory.

We encourage you to adapt and/or modify the theme to your specific needs. By using sub-themes you can focus on specific issues such as TB/HIV, women and children, TB in prisons and others. At the same time, the theme is meant as an encouragement to continue expanding the Stop TB partnership into new areas. Please find attached a one page brief on the 2001 World TB Day theme.

I would like to remind you that the Stop TB website www.stoptb.org, which has been accessed frequently over the past years, will continue to serve as information source for World TB Day 2001. We will make sure that most of the material that we produce is available on the internet. Should you need any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Stop TB secretariat.

Stop TB Initiative Secretariat
WHO Geneva, Switzerland