Each one of you is needed to make the unprecedented push to End TB
Only 60 days are left till the first-ever UN High-Level Meeting (HLM) on TB, which will bring together Heads of State and governments in New York on 26 September 2018. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Stop TB Partnership are calling on all partners to unite in a final push to ensure highest level participation from countries at the UNHLM, as well as commitment to investment and action to urgently accelerate the global response to end TB.
Now is the best opportunity to call on your Head of State to attend the UNHLM. WHO and the Stop TB Partnership have been working together to secure Heads of State to attend the UNHLM. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has sent personal letters encouraging the participation of all Heads of State and Governments of 194 WHO Member States and Ministers of Health of over 50 Member States who bear a high burden of TB. WHO Regional and Country Offices are following up to ensure high level engagement. Further outreach to Heads of State is being done by the leadership of the Stop TB Partnership, the UN Special Envoy on TB, Dr. Eric Goosby, members of the Global TB Caucus, partners in Ghana, Norway, Germany, India - led by the Global Coalition of TB Activists , South Africa - led by TB Proof , and nearly 40 CSO partners in Bangladesh. Partners in over 20 other countries have also shared examples of their outreach to Heads of State ahead of the UNHLM.
We are urging every single one of you to join our efforts:
26 July marks 60 days to the UN HLM – we encourage you to join us as we amplify our call for Heads of State participation at the UN HLM, through August and September via Twitter and Facebook.
What you can do:
- Use the suggested sample Tweet: “We urge [Name of Head of State/Government] to attend the #UNHLMTB to #EndTB on 26th September 2018 in #NewYork”
- Tag the HoS in your country and use TB data to highlight the burden of TB in your country. Statistics indicate that tweets with images get more visibility. You can access country profiles with data here.
- Amplify the Tweets and Facebook posts in YOUR COUNTRY and tag your local media and key opinion leaders. The success of this campaign will depend on our collective efforts and active participation.
- Write to your political leaders, tag them on social media and sign petitions to focus attention on the UN HLM and efforts to end TB.
LightUpforTB: The global LightUpforTB initiative was an immense success on World TB Day this year, with 60 landmarks – across 49 cities – in 24 countries glowing red on 24 March. The success of this initiative helped amplify awareness about TB as the world’s number one infectious killer. On September 26, the day of the UN HLM on TB, we are counting on your efforts to LightUpforTB in red the landmarks in your cities and countries to mark this historical moment.
What you can do:
- Write to your local representative (councilor, mayor etc.) and urge them to join this unique global campaign.
- Feel free to reach out to WHO (gtbprogramme@who.int) and Stop TB partnership (communications@stoptb.org) in case you need help.
- Tell us about your activities (via photos, selfies) by using the #LightUpforTB and we will pin these on our UN HLM on TB world map.
We look forward to your support. Together we can End TB.
More information on the planned programme can be found in UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/72/268.
For additional information on the UNHLM, please click here to visit the President of the General Assembly page.
Access the WHO UNHLM page here.
Access the Stop TB Partnership webpage with information here.