The Regional Parliamentary Front of the Americas against Tuberculosis was launched in Brazil

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*By Luciana Nemeth, with information and photos of PAHO, Agencia Camara Noticias, TB Global Parliamentary Front and the advice of Deputy Antonio Brito.

Brasilia, Brazil, March 15, 2016 – Deputies from Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay Nicaragua and Bolivia, established on March 15 the Regional Parliamentary Front of the Americas against Tuberculosis, to work within the framework of the new world strategy “Fin de la TB”, of the Global Plan Fin de la TB 2016-2020, of the Alliance “Alto a la TB” and the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis 2016-2019, of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The Front will closely work with governments and civil society for sufficient financial resources to be allocated to activities for ending this millenary disease.

The call to form this group was made by the Parliamentary Front against Tuberculosis of Brazil, PAHO/WHO and the TB Global Parliamentary Front/Alliance “Alto a la TB” within the framework of the celebration of the Global Day of Tuberculosis held in March 24 every year. “If the governments and parliament members of the Americas commit themselves to implement comprehensive policies for prevention and control of tuberculosis, as well as the adequate funding, the social protection for patients and safe access to high quality medication, we could end this disease in the next two decades” said Francisco Becerra, Vice-director of PAHO/WHO during the launch of the Parliamentary Front at the Brazilian National Congress.

The event brought together specialists from international organizations, civil society and governments from the countries in the region. Together, the participants made a call to all sectors to join forces against the disease.

It is estimated that in 2014, 23,000 people in the Americas died from Tuberculosis and 280,000 got the disease. Although in recent years the cases detection has increased, still 65,000 people are not diagnosed, which hinders the termination of the disease.

The TB Parliamentary Front of the Americas

The Parliamentary Front will be the regional entity that will join the Tuberculosis Global Front, an essential step to foster a comprehensive response to the disease. According to PAHO, the countries represented at the event are responsible for 60% of the tuberculosis burden in the Americas, which shows the commitment from the region to fight the disease.

The group was initially composed by: Antonio Brito, Deputy from Brazil; Luis Enrique Gallo, Deputy from Uruguay; Luz Salgado, Congress Member from Peru; Elias Octavio Iñiguez Mejia, Depity from Mexico; Arturo Murillo, Senator from Bolivia; and Argentina Parrajon, Deputy from Nicaragua. The group also has the support from Argentina, Colombia, Honduras and Panama.

The Front will have a similar performance than the Global Front, with leadership divided in three co-chairs. Upon common agreement, the parliament members appointed as co-chairman were: Luis Enrique Gallo from Uruguay, Antonio Brito from Brazil and Luz Salgado from Peru.

Deputy Antonio Brito states that the legislative branch has a fundamental role in the prevention and control of tuberculosis. Parliament members must evaluate and propose changes that ensure the well-being of citizens, looking for improvements in legislation in the areas of health, social care, urban development and housing, among other issues affecting the persistence of tuberculosis.

Congress member Luz Salgado said that in her country the fight against tuberculosis is ruled by a national law and involves the Armed Forces and eleven Ministries. Among the socioeconomic effects of the disease, she mentioned the reduction of family income by 25%, as the worker would be absent from work from 3 to 4 months during treatment. Thus, she pleads for special labor benefits defined by law.

The parliamentary front agreed to follow a roadmap which includes:

Establishment of national parliamentary groups to demand accountability from the governments, to monitor expenses and work closely with civil society.
Positioning the tuberculosis problem within other networks and political organizations.
Promoting the mainstreaming on Tuberculosis.
Work with other parliament members to ensure a global response.
Promoting human rights of those affected by the disease.
Calling the ministers involved to report to the Parliament at least once a year on the progress against the epidemic.
Work with all partners involved and the Secretariat of the TB Global Parliamentary Front on Tuberculosis to monitor their progress.

As a result, the parliament members signed a declaration of commitment to advocate for the actions listed in the roadmap, supporting the construction of a robust health system in order to contribute with the end of TB in the Americas. In addition, PAHO and the “Alianza Alto a la TB”, as international organizations involved in the fight against the disease, have signed a commitment to support the Roadmap. The commitment is to jointly work with civil society and other key stakeholders in every country of the Americas to provide the necessary support to the parliament members in the implementation of actions in the Roadmap.