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Source: WHO
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) revamped Civil Society Task Force on TB (CSTF) held its first meeting on 7-8 March to identify key priorities for the period 2019-2020. Along with inputs from the WHO secretariat and key partners such as the Stop TB Partnership, The Union and the Global Fund, the Task Force outlined a roadmap with key priorities to ensure that community voices and actions are meaningfully reflected in WHO’s End TB response.
The members of the Task Force bring a wealth of expertise, experience and geographic diversity, representing different areas of interest of civil society.
The priorities include the implementation of the political declaration of the UN high-level meeting on TB (UNHLM-TB); the systematic engagement of WHO’s Director-General with civil society; inclusion of the Task Force in policy development, research, programmes and processes; civil society and affected community representation in TB related research; Task Force support in implementation of the Multisectoral Accountability Framework and its monitoring at national and global levels.
The Task Force was able to agree on initial actions in support of the priorities. These will be translated into a 2019-2020 workplan in the coming weeks.
“We look forward to working closely with the Task Force in implementing the priorities and actions they have identified together.” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global TB Programme. “WHO is committed to fully supporting the Civil Society Task Force as a strong ally in driving forward the End TB response. We need the voice and power of those most affected by TB and civil society make the ambitious commitments made by Heads of State at the UN High Level Meeting on TB into reality”.
The revamped task force is a culmination of the commitments made by WHO’s Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to strengthen civil society engagement with WHO, as discussed at several consultations with civil society representatives, starting from the first WHO Global Ministerial Conference on Ending TB which took place in Moscow in November 2017 (report is available here), the 15-16 January 2018 WHO consultation between civil society representatives and WHO DG and leadership, followed by a face-to-face meeting at the Delhi End TB Summit in March 2018 which culminated in the UN Interactive Civil Society Hearing and the UN High Level Meeting on TB in 2018.
Shared below are impressions from Civil Society Task Force members at the close of the meeting:
VOICES OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY TASK FORCE MEMBERS
Anh Tuan Nguyen, Viet Nam
I am happy to have such productive discussion with other dedicated CSTF members about the list of priority actions to take in the next two years.
Jeffry Acaba, Philippines
This 1st meeting of the WHO Civil Society Task Force on TB is a breakthrough for WHO as part of its internal revamp. With the plans and activities that we identified in the next 18 months, it is my hope, as a member of CSTF, for WHO to maintain its openness in working closely with those that it is mandated to serve, especially those who are most left behind in the TB response.
Yuliya Chorna, Ukraine
I am glad that with the Revamped Civil Society Task Force we have a solid dialogue platform for coordinated response with WHO. I am sure, that our joint actions will strengthen links between civil society and TB affected communities with national TB programs and global stakeholders for human-rights based, quality people-centered care.
Esty Febriani, Indonesia
It’s a great to have the first meeting, the team consist of valued and positive persons. Not easy in beginning but finally we come with key priorities and the thoughts for the real action.
Harry Hausler, South Africa
The first meeting of the revamped Civil Society Task Force (CSTF) on TB was excellent. It is an honour to be working with this team of technically strong, highly motivated and passionate people. We will work with WHO to support high burden TB countries to ensure civil society engagement in implementing country level plans to reach the targets set at the UN High Level Meeting.
Jamilya Ismoilova, Tajikistan
I am excited to be part of the revamped WHO CSTF and jointly with the team of experts on community engagement to make contributions to END TB. Jointly with the group we have prioritized actions to catalyze greater collaboration between the CSOs, affected communities, NTPs and WHO at all levels to improve TB outcomes and we are committed to implement these actions.
Bertrand Pfouminzhouer Kampoer, Cameroon
We are on the paradigm shifting. WHO has showed the direction. Increase collaboration and partnership specially with civil society and TB affected communities is a winning option for Ending TB. As CSTF we agreed on a revolutionary roadmap for greater collaboration between civil society, NTP and WHO at all level.
Roger Paul Kamugasha, Uganda
The CSTF first meeting has been an opportunity to embrace innovation concurrently with diversity. It’s time to strengthen the linkage between WHO, civil society and NTPs. The idea adds mileage to the end TB pathway.
Amir Khan, Pakistan
Excited to be a member of the Task Force with a range of relevant experience. We are confident about optimising the civil society role in achieving END TB targets.
Evaline Kibuchi, Kenya
The meeting has been very informative, engaging and stormy! We have been able to demystify the role of the taskforce and come out with clear activities and deliverable. Our responsibility as a task force is now very clear.
The time was very short though. We could have done with at least one extra day!
Blessina Kumar, India
The first meeting of the revamped WHO CSTF meeting concluded successfully after 2 days of fruitful discussions, setting priorities.
This is a great platform that provides an opportunity for WHO to work with the communities and CS and vice versa. Unless the voices of the affected inform policy the TB response will never be people centered and rights based and our dream of ending TB will remain a distant dream.
Suraj Madoori, USA
Over two days, the CSTF came together to discuss our priorities and work plan. We are excited for this newly formed group to inform WHO processes and ensure civil society involvement is prioritized as a key cog of the Global TB program’s work.
Nyan Win Phyo, Thailand
This is the first time ever meeting officially we were able to provide community thoughts towards TB, barriers which people affected with TB are facing, things that need to improve to be able to get effective TB interventions in the community level. Thanks to WHO and other relevant stakeholders for giving such kind of environments and chance to create effective communication channels at the global level. Long journey begins and this is the first step for CSTF members to actively engage to make sure, to advocate, to enforce the Political declarations on UNHLM that all agreed by head and ministers of state members at Global, Regional and country level. During two days, we have a lot of fruitful discussions and very productive outputs. Now It’s time for action to end TB.
Ezio Távora dos Santos Filho, Brazil
I am excited for moving forward with a clear work plan and activities by the CSTF. It is a brilliant opportunity by the DG and Global TB Programme Director to leave at the members to define the priorities and establish the agenda. Very invigorating and promising! Happy to be putting research among the priorities in the communities agenda. We have to help monitoring the commitments by the countries to the Political Declaration at the HLM on TB at the UN in New York last September. And we have to have the Multisectoral Accountability Framework implemented widely; without that, we are not ending TB by 2030!