24 July 2018, Geneva – Minister of Health of Nigeria, Prof. Isaac Adewole, and Minister of Health of Kazakhstan, Dr. Elzhan A. Birtanov, will represent Countries Affected by TB in the Stop TB Partnership’s Board (“Board”). The Private Sector will be represented on the Board by Dr. Adrian Thomas, Vice President of Global Health at Johnson & Johnson. The new Board Members will serve their terms effective immediately.
The Board has the responsibility of building awareness at the highest political level, identifying critical barriers in the TB space, and facilitating consensus on strategy and policy-making. It also oversees the effective implementation of the Stop TB Partnership’s Operational Strategy and the Global Plan to End TB: 2016-2020.
Minister of Health of Nigeria, H.E. Professor Adewole, who committed his efforts to end TB with a remarkable contribution at the Delhi End TB Summit in March this year, will now represent Nigeria at the Stop TB Partnership’s Board.
“Nigeria is deeply concerned with the TB burden, and especially with the number of people with TB who are not detected and not treated, allowing for this horrible disease to continue affecting our social and economic balance. As I am honored to join the Stop TB Partnership’s Board, I will make sure the voices of the high-burden countries and their people are heard and put all my energy in the efforts to stage a historical and game-changing UN HLM on TB, as a turning point in the fight to end TB,” said Minister Adewole
With the nomination of H.E. Minister Birtanov, Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a TB champion in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, putting significant political and advocacy efforts towards ending TB.
“I welcome the chance to represent Kazakhstan and play a proactive and constructive role in the Stop TB Partnership’s Board. Detecting, treating and curing people with TB is clearly a priority for Kazakhstan, and we are convinced that working together with the Stop TB Partnership will bring us closer to this goal,” said Minister Birtanov adding that “it is imperative for all countries to step-up, unite forces and assure the highest representation for a successful UN HLM on TB in September.”
The Private Sector Constituency is one of the voting members at the Board and ensures the business community’s perspectives and expertise.
Dr. Adrian Thomas, as the newly elected Private Sector Constituency Board Member, brings extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry and has long been at the center of Johnson & Johnson’s Global Public Health organization to advance health across the world by accelerating innovation to address critical public health challenges.
“I am honored by the confidence the Private Sector Constituency members have placed in me to represent the global and in-country business community in our collective fight to end TB by 2030,” said Dr. Adrian Thomas. “I am eager to work with this group to find new, out of the box ways to bring the skills and resources of the private sector to bear to tackle the biggest challenges facing the TB community. I am confident that by working together across sectors, we can achieve our ambitious goals.”
“It is a privilege to receive guidance and support from such an outstanding Board that includes six Ministers of Health,” said Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership. “Ministers of Health of Kazakhstan and Nigeria bring huge expertise, professionalism and political clout to our Board. The selection of Dr. Adrian Thomas is a strong message to the TB community that it is high time to stop shying away but work together with the private sector to develop and deliver joint solutions and innovations that push forward people-centered care and save lives,” Dr. Ditiu concluded.
The United Nations high-level meeting (HLM) on TB will take place on 26 September 2018 during the UN General Assembly in New York City.
The Stop TB Partnership’s 31st Board Meeting will be held from 27-29 January 2019 in Geneva.
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