24 March 2003

This year’s World TB Day is marking a truly global movement to stop tuberculosis. Across the globe a wide variety of events are happening and already over 32 activities are announced on the Stop TB website all supporting the following aims of this year’s theme

"DOTS cured me – it will cure you too!"

• To emphasize the role of people with TB and cured patients in DOTS expansion and specifically in increasing case detection. Preliminary estimates of 2001 data indicate that less than 1 in 3 TB cases are being detected and treated under DOTS. Dramatic increases in case detection will be needed to reach the global TB targets for 2005.

• To raise awareness among political leaders, decision-makers and opinion leaders around the world about the implications of TB, especially on the economy, and the fact that there is no excuse for inaction in the face of an available, cost-effective cure.

• To mobilize TB sufferers to demand greater access to DOTS treatment, thereby enabling them to become productive members of their society.

• World Health Organization Director-General Nominee Sees Reduction in TB Transmission, But HIV a Major Threat to TB Control - Press Release from the Stop TB Partnership in collaboration with UK Partner - TB Alert, 24 March

• WHO reports 10 million TB patients successfully treated under "DOTS" 10 years after declaring TB a Global Emergency - Press Release from the World Health Organization, Geneva, 24 March 

World TB Day in the News
The ‘In The News’ web page highlights all the Press Releases, Press Events, and News Articles generated on and around World TB Day, throughout the world.

Events around the World
The following web page highlights Events that have taken place worldwide, and will keep getting updated as and when new information is received.

Web Event
The special World TB Day website, dedicated to those who have had TB, have been cured with DOTS and are willing to share their experience with others

Publications
WHO Global Tuberculosis Control Report 2003 - Surveillance, Planning, Financing

This is the 7^th WHO annual report on global TB control. It includes data on case notifications and treatment outcomes from all national control programmes that have reported to WHO, together with an analysis of plans, finances, and constraints on DOTS expansion for 22 high-burden countries (HBCs). Eight consecutive years of data are now available to assess progress towards the 2005 global targets for case detection (70%) and treatment success (85%).

• You can find the entire content of this web alert, as well as previous ones on the Stop TB website at: /events/world_tb_day/2003/Alerts/default.asp
• TB Advocacy - A Practical Guide 1999 (html) or (pdf file 7741kb) [WHO/TB/98.239] - This practical guide outlines four basic steps that are essential for an effective advocacy initiative--documenting the situation, packaging the message, working with the media and mobilizing others.
• You can find the Stop TB Image Library at: http://www.worldlungfoundation.org/library.html
• For more information on planning for World TB Day 2003, consult "Guidelines for Social Mobilization: Planning World TB Day", available online at: www.stoptb.org/events/world_tb_day/2000/assets/documents/tbguide.pdf or order a hard copy from the CDS Documents Centre by emailing: CDSDOC@who.int.
• For more information on World TB Day 2003, visit our website at: www.stoptb.org/events/world_tb_day/2003/default.asp or contact the Stop TB Partnership Secretariat at: stoptbadvocacy@who.int.