Global leaders commit to end TB by 2030 – Dainik Savera Times

United Nations: World leaders at the UN General Assembly’s high-level meeting on the fight against tuberculosis (TB) have approved a political declaration to step up efforts to eliminate the disease by 2030. The document sets out ambitious new targets for the next five years, including reaching TB prevention and care services to 90 percent of the population, providing social benefit packages to people living with the disease and licensing at least one new vaccine.

UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis said on Friday, ‘I congratulate all Member States on the approval of this draft political declaration, which I will later submit to the General Assembly for formal adoption.’ ‘We come together today with a single purpose and resolve,’ Francis said, ‘and seek to reaffirm commitments and accelerate progress towards ending tuberculosis, a disease that is thousands of years old but still It is one of the top infectious deadly diseases in the world.

He said, ‘From sending a man to the Moon to having the world at our fingertips – why despite so much progress, we are unable to defeat a preventable and treatable disease that kills more than 4,400 people a day? Do you take it?’ ‘The TB epidemic thrives on inequalities such as poverty and undernutrition, and is exacerbated by conflict, climate change and other crises,’ Francis said.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic has undone years of progress in the fight to end TB. This placed a heavy burden on those affected, especially the most vulnerable. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called for action to tackle the main drivers of infection – poverty, undernutrition, lack of access to health care, high prevalence of HIV infection, diabetes, mental health and smoking.

He said there is a need to reduce the stigma associated with the disease so that people can get help without fear of discrimination and governments should ensure universal health coverage that includes TB testing, prevention and treatment. Mohammed also shared his reason for supporting the global fight. He said, ‘My commitment is my personal story: 37 years ago this week I lost my father, who was just 50 years old, to TB.’ Mohammed said, ‘It is possible to eliminate tuberculosis. This requires political will, financial commitment and global solidarity. The UN system stands ready to support all efforts… Together we must pledge to leave no stone unturned to end tuberculosis forever.’ According to the World Health Organization, nearly 16 lakh people died from TB in 2021 alone, making it the second-biggest killer in the world after COVID-19.