35,000 + signatures
120 countries
74 high level delegates in the room
More than 35,000 people from over 120 countries have taken a stand in solidarity with those affected by tuberculosis by signing our petition asking world health leaders to #StepUpforTB.
We delivered this message loud and clear at the first-ever international ministerial meeting on TB that took place in Moscow in November 2017.
Mariam Avanesova, who was treated for MDR-TB in Armenia in 2010-2012 and represents TBpeople, the Eurasian network of people with TB experience, presented the names of #StepUpforTB supporters at the conference, alongside Lynette Mabote from the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA).
“I really want to appeal to all governments to step up to make timely TB testing and treatment accessible to all people who need it.” – Mariam Avanesova
The petition was received by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organization in the presence of 74 high-level delegates (Ministers and Vice Ministers of Health).
In reaction to the #StepUpforTB petition, Dr Tedros said: “Count me in! I’m really happy to be on your side!”
At the meeting, Governments signed a declaration committing to scale-up improved TB testing, treatment and prevention programmes, which could help save many lives (see the Moscow declaration to End TB here: http://www.who.int/tb/Moscow_Declaration_MinisterialConference_TB/en/
The 29 Ministers of Health of the #StepUpforTB target countries will also receive a letter with the final petition numbers, and we will remind them of the commitments they made at the ministerial conference and urge them to update their key TB policies and practices, as identified in the Out of Step report.
