Report of the 7th Meeting of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for TB

Overview

WHO recognizes its critical role in supporting urgent national efforts over the coming decade to meet the Millennium Development Goal 6 target of reversing TB incidence and meeting Stop TB targets for 2015 of halving TB prevalence and mortality rates, as well as the target of universal access to treatment and care by 2010. WHO requires ongoing scientific, technical and strategic advice in TB care and control as it aims to support progress through the Stop TB Strategy and implementation of the Stop TB Partnership Global Plan to Stop TB, 2006-2015. It also needs to pursue the further efforts requested of WHO in a resolution on TB control made by the World Health Assembly in 2007, especially in response to the challenges of MDR/XDRTB and HIV-associated TB. WHO relies on ongoing support and guidance from its Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Tuberculosis (STAG-TB).

The Terms of Reference for the STAG-TB were revised in 2007 to reflect the need for representation and expertise from communities and patients affected by TB, and civil society organizations. The membership limit of STAG-TB was expanded to allow for up to 20 Members. Three STAG-TB Members from 2006 resigned or "graduated" from STAG-TB in 2007, and five new Members were added, including three from civil society and affected communities and two are national TB control officials.