ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GLOBAL PLAN TO END TB 2023-30

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GLOBAL PLAN TO END TB 2023-30

END TB 

A costed plan to eradicate tuberculosis (TB), the second most lethal infectious illness in the world after COVID-19, was unveiled today by the Stop TB Partnership. In order to eliminate tuberculosis as a hazard to world health by 2030, the Global Plan to End TB 2023–2030 (the "Global Plan") identifies the top priorities and estimates the financial resources required.

The Global Plan details how, from now through 2030, a global investment of US$250 billion could save millions of lives by helping 50 million people with TB receive early diagnosis and treatment, developing, approving, and disseminating a new TB vaccine, and stepping up efforts to ensure that emerging crises like the COVID-19 pandemic or conflicts, like the ongoing war in Ukraine, do not derail TB programs.

The amount of money required to support the Global Plan's objectives is equal to what would be raised if every person in the world gave $4 a year for the next eight years. For every dollar invested, the economic return would be $40, and in low- and middle-income nations, the return might reach $59 per dollar. Instead, suppose the status quo is maintained. In that case, TB is predicted to continue killing between 4,000 and 5,000 people every day, infecting an additional 43 million people, and costing 1 trillion US dollars in lost human life and disability.

Dr. Paula Fujiwara, the head of the task committee in charge of creating the Global Plan, remarked that the COVID-19 pandemic "gave a crystal-clear wake-up call: that we cannot neglect a disease just because it has been consigned to the poorest sections of the world." "Due to our attention being diverted and the lack of financial obligations, TB has tightened its hold on our world. But as long as we demonstrate our political resolve, we can retake control and fulfill our promises to eradicate TB by 2030."

The Global Plan outlines how to eradicate tuberculosis as a public health issue by 2030, the deadline by which governments throughout the world agreed to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of the aims of SDG three, which is to "guarantee healthy lifestyles and promote well-being for everyone and all ages," is to eradicate the TB scourge. The 2018 UNHLM on TB, whose member states welcomed a number of international commitments that the world is presently not on track to reach, especially in light of the setback to the global TB response caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, has this objective as its main focus.

According to Dr. Lucica Ditiu, executive director of the Stop TB Partnership, "the worldwide community's response to the COVID-19 pandemic was to put money and resources into developing diagnosis tools, treatments, and vaccinations at breakneck speed." "The global reaction to TB, which affects 10 million people annually and claims 1.5 million lives, has been at best muted. TB, a comparable airborne infectious disease, is under-recognized despite being a hazard to everyone's health. To eradicate TB is in every one of our best interests."

Stop TB Partnership 

The Global Plan emphasizes the necessity of funding a new TB vaccine, getting it approved by 2025, and making sure that there are resources available so that it may be given to adults and teenagers in nations where TB is most prevalent. The BCG vaccine, which was authorized more than a century ago and has very little effect on disease prevention, is the only TB vaccine that is now accessible.

A new instrument that we are all waiting for, the anticipated investment of US$ 10 billion in new TB vaccinations, is 10 times less than what was invested in the COVID-19 vaccines' research and development. The TB vaccine ought to be accessible, right? Dr. Ditiu said.

As airborne respiratory illnesses are anticipated to contribute to future pandemics, the Global Plan places TB prevention at the forefront of pandemic planning and response initiatives.

According to Dr. Ditiu, "the global community has a long list of reasons for allowing TB to persist." Today, the Global Plan outlines how we can eradicate the disease: invest in the science and make sure that everyone can access the findings, especially those from underdeveloped areas where TB is most prevalent. From COVID-19 to any number of crises, including pointless wars, mass migrations, famines, and other natural calamities.

The Global Plan aims to raise $249.98 billion between 2023 and 2030 from various sources, including domestic government budgets, foreign donors, development banks, social health insurance, philanthropy, the private sector, and creative sources of funding. With regard to this, US$157.2 billion will go toward TB prevention and treatment, US$52.6 billion will be used for immunization once new vaccines are ready, and US$40.18 billion will be added to hasten the development of new TB drugs, treatment plans, and diagnostics.

In previous reports from the Stop TB Partnership, it was reported that COVID-19 had cost the world 12 years of progress against TB. The financing needs outlined in the Global Plan are crucial to recoup lost progress due to COVID-19 and accelerate progress toward eradicating TB. As a result, the Global Plan's action steps would hasten research and development, expand access to cutting-edge equipment, and make up for years of financing gaps for TB. For community-level services, initiatives to uphold the rights of those who are TB-positive, and support for a stigma-free and gender-responsive approach to TB care and prevention, additional financing requirements are also listed.

END TB

To end TB, we will need an all-hands-on-deck approach from governments and a variety of partners from civil society and affected communities, as well as an increased investment through mechanisms like Challenge Facility for Civil Society to ensure we can play our role, according to Choub Sok Chamreun, executive director of Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance and co-chair of Activists' Coalition on TB Asia-Pacific (ACT! AP). By treading water rather than making waves, we are losing far too many people. It's time to completely eradicate TB. 

Please do visit the Following Link to find the complete Global Plan to END TB 2023-30.