NEWS ALERT - 21 November 2024 l Lilongwe, Malawi
LILONGWE: Her Excellency, the First Lady of Malawi, Madam Monica Chakwera, hosted a high-level breakfast at the Kamuzu Presidential Palace in Lilongwe centered on “Amplifying voices to end TB Stigma” on November 18 2024.
This event highlighted the importance and role of TB survivors in ending TB, the achievements Malawi has made towards ending tuberculosis (TB) and underscored the critical role of leadership in ending TB stigma. The event, co-hosted by the Stop TB Partnership and the Malawi Ministry of Health, convened government officials, financing partners, TB survivors, civil society, Global Fund Board members and representatives.
The dialogue focused on the importance of high-level engagement and sustainable financing in achieving the ambitious TB targets in the 2023 United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) Political Declaration on TB. As TB continues to be marginalized as a disease of the poor and most vulnerable, the First Lady’s advocacy for awareness and stigma reduction marks an important step toward Malawi’s and Africa's goal of ending TB by 2030. She emphasized the need for early detection, especially for the rural communities and effective follow-up activities to ensure that no more lives were lost due to TB.
Stop TB Partnership has long prioritized ending TB stigma, given it acts as a barrier for people with TB to access TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care, and support services. Many Challenge Facility for Civil Society grantees from African countries joined this event and, significantly, Stop TB's Challenge Facility has been the leading mechanism for empowering communities and supporting countries to conduct TB stigma assessments and development targeted interventions to reduce and end TB stigma.
The Deputy Assistant Administrator for USAID’s Global Health Bureau, Ms Julie Wallace - emphasized USAID’s commitment to supporting global TB efforts while highlighting the great strides that Malawi has made with tracing and testing its population. She indicated further support to the government of Malawi by announcing additional support to increase TB diagnosis.
The chairlady of the Global Fund Board, Lady Rosslyn Elizabeth Morauta expressed her gratitude to the government of Malawi for hosting the Global Fund Board. She congratulated Her Excellency the First Lady on the great work she is doing as a TB champion- lending her voice in TB response and stressed the need for stronger partnerships and domestic funding, as well as the importance of the upcoming Global Fund replenishment.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Hon. Alima Daud, highlighted Malawi's significant achievements in the fight against TB, noting a 40% reduction in the TB incidence rate and a 60% decline in TB-related deaths. She added that Malawi is nearing the 2025 milestones of a 50% reduction in incidence and a 75% reduction in mortality.
The Director General of Global Health and Food Systems at Canada’s International Assistance Partnerships and Programming Branch, Mr. Jean-Bernard Parenteau, emphasized that the fight to end TB is a key priority for Canada. He highlighted Canada's commitment to advancing this cause through its support to the Global Fund and the Stop TB Partnership, extensively through the TB Reach.
The Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership, Dr. Lucica Ditiu, delivered a compelling speech emphasizing the need to address the stigma faced by people with TB. She called for empathy, active listening, and actionable support to meet their demands, acknowledging the challenges of isolation, malnutrition, and stigma they endure. Highlighting the global neglect of TB as the leading infectious disease killer, Dr. Ditiu described it as a failure of prioritization over decades, while praising Malawi for its leadership and the First Lady’s commitment to early detection and rural outreach.
Dr. Ditiu also stressed the importance of national ownership of health agendas, encouraging countries to take the lead in addressing TB rather than relying on donor-driven initiatives. Commending Malawi’s 77% case detection rate, she called for increased efforts to find and treat the remaining undiagnosed cases, particularly among vulnerable populations.
The First Lady of the Republic of Malawi, Her Excellency, Madam Monica Chakwera, delivered an impactful address, underscoring the urgency of collective action and leadership in the fight against TB. Her Excellency called for united efforts to end TB stigma, early case finding and diagnosis, increased education of population on TB symptoms and treatment as well as increased resource allocation to end TB in Malawi and beyond.
Her Excellency First Lady Chakwera’s closing remarks emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and action to achieve Malawi’s target of ending TB by 2030.
As the meeting ended there was a resounding call from all present at the breakfast, led by the First Lady of Malawi in amplifying their voices calling out “Yes! We can End TB!” that thundered through the Kamuzu Palace official dining room.
The Stop TB Partnership commends the leadership of Her Excellency the First Lady and the Government of Malawi in the fight against TB and remains committed to supporting Malawi’s efforts to fulfill the UNHLM TB commitments.
