Zero TB Initiative meets in Dubai to discuss comprehensive strategies to eliminate TB: One Community at a Time

16 July 2018, Dubai, UAE - Over 90 physicians, implementers and researchers from 25 countries gathered in Dubai, UAE to discuss implementation strategies for an integrated approach to finding and treating both TB disease and TB infection.

The group first reviewed the scientific evidence presented via case studies from both historical and recent examples to demonstrate that actively searching for and treating both TB disease and TB infection is a key first step in eliminating TB.

Representatives from several coalitions including Zero TB Karachi, Zero TB Bangladesh, and TB Free Chennai presented the ways in which they have designed and implemented integrated programs to search for and treat both TB infection and TB disease, highlighting the practical considerations important in designing such programs.

The meeting provided a learning and sharing opportunity to teams from 30 cities representing different regions across the globe, who are at various stages of the Zero TB Initiative.

Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of Stop TB Partnership said “We are excited to see the growing number of cities and communities that have been inspired by this relatively new initiative and it was great to see in this meeting how local efforts and innovations are overcoming local barriers and achieving the scale of coverage of comprehensive strategies that are needed to stamp out TB from cities, islands and local communities.”

The Zero TB Initiative (ZTBI) is working across the world to create islands of elimination with strong local partners in high-burden areas. You can learn more about the initiative here.