Tuberculosis (TB) thrives in conditions of structural inequity, where the complexities of poverty, social inequity, disempowerment, rights violations, conflict and patriarchy render communities susceptible to TB and marginalize access to diagnosis, treatment and care. Moreover, as Anupama Srinivasan, a workshop participant from REACH India remarked, "Studies disproportionally focus on HIV than TB, and as a result, we don’t have substantial data for TB."
The Stop TB Partnership in collaboration with partners is pioneering the way forward, in the creation of the three tools which aim to bridge the data gap and ensure that implementers properly address human rights, gender and vulnerable populations, so that the End TB goals are achieved: Legal Environment Assessment (LEA) Assessment Tool; Gender Assessment Tool; and Key, Vulnerable and the most Underserved Populations Assessment Tool.
Designed for implementers, national programs and civil society, these three tools provide a current and improved perspective to support reviewing national policies and practices, focusing on human rights and gender-based approaches to TB and HIV.