“Each year that passes it becomes more and more difficult to combat these epidemics effectively, thus the action should be taken here and now.”
- Elena, Ukraine (Current TB patient, ‘Tuberculosis – Voices in the fight against the European epidemic‘ report)
This week highlights some important steps in combating TB and in raising TB awareness, marking a 
shared commitment in tackling the disease, particularly with regard to drug resistant TB. Yesterday morning at a press conference in London, the WHO Europe unveiled an Action Plan to tackle multi-drug and extensively drug resistant TB in the WHO European region. WHO Europe will be presenting the Plan for endorsement this week at the WHO Europe Regional Committee meeting being held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Plan aims to contain the spread of drug-resistant TB by achieving universal access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment in all Member States in the WHO European Region by 2015. This also formed part of discussions on drug resistant TB at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Tuberculosis meeting later in the afternoon.
To coincide with this event TB Europe Coalition and ACTION launched their report: ‘Tuberculosis – Voices in the fight against the European epidemic‘. This report aims to give real insight into the lives of those affected by TB, beyond the statistics and through the lens of the human story.
“When illness hits it breaks a family – not only because of the finances required, but also because of the sheer humiliation felt in being poor.” – Brian Douglas, Director of the Romanian Children’s Humanitarian Foundation
Although a global epidemic, this report focuses on European cases of TB to challenge widespread myths and highlight a growing European problem. Case studies offer personal insight into the lives of those affected and ignite the fight against disease by telling the human side of the story as well as giving prominence to the voices of marginalised groups.
Patients, health care professionals and advocates in seven European countries speak out about their experiences, achievements and the challenges faced in tackling this global epidemic. Those interviewed address the need to sustain political will and financial investment as well as emphasizing how much work still needs to be done closer to home.
This report is such an exciting and relevant contribution to our work — in particular is addresses, through its ‘voices’ approach aspects of human dignity which add to the seriousness of the conversation on global public health and help us – as you rightly say – get past the myths and towards a reality we can do something about.