29 November 2017 - A shared vision of a world without tuberculosis (TB), in which everyone can access health care, brought advocates together in Panama City, Panama, this week for a workshop on strengthening community TB advocacy in the Americas.
The workshop, held 27-29 November, was the product of a joint effort by Stop TB Partnership and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), as well as community advocates from regional platforms REDTBLAC and Americas TB Coalition. Fifteen countries from the region were represented by community advocates and national Red Cross societies.
The event was the first of five regional workshops that will focus on building stronger, more-coordinated affected communities, advancing strategic partnerships - particularly between Stop TB, IFRC, national Red Cross societies and community TB advocates - and composing an advocacy plan and engagement strategy to ensure community priorities are represented and stakeholders are engaged during the UN High-Level Meeting on TB in 2018.
The second regional meeting, entitled "Building Stronger TB Communities in Eastern Europe and Central Asia," will be held 11-13 December in Minsk, Belarus.
For additional information about the shared initiative between Stop TB and IFRC, please see our September announcement.