European health authorities discuss essential steps to curb the TB and M/XDR-TB epidemic
WHO
WHO/Europe convened the Eleventh Meeting of the National TB Programme Managers in London, United Kingdom, on 2–3 July 2012, back to back with the 6th Conference of the Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) Europe Region.
The National TB Programme Managers of the WHO European Region have witnessed the progressive merging of priorities for tuberculosis (TB) control interventions. Alarming rates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB are significant challenges across the Region. This has led to new interest in identifying and addressing the health system weaknesses and social determinants of TB, with greater focus on innovative approaches for TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.
In October 2007, the endorsement of The Berlin Declaration on Tuberculosis renewed political commitment to stop TB in the WHO European Region. In September 2011, all 53 Member States of the WHO European Region fully endorsed the Consolidated Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Multidrug- and Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in the WHO European Region 2011–2015, along with resolution EUR/RC61/R7 passed during the sixty-first session of the WHO Regional Committee in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Eleventh Meeting of the National TB Programme Managers provided an excellent opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities shared by all countries in the Region to fulfil the above commitments and to achieve the tuberculosis targets of Millennium Development Goal 6 by 2015.
Following the Eleventh Meeting of the National TB Programme Managers, the 6th Conference of The Union Europe Region, “Tuberculosis and lung disease: threats and promises”, was held on 5–6 July 2012 (with postgraduate sessions on 4 July). This Conference brought together renowned experts and focused on approaches to the control of tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases, as well as a wide range of other important issues, including lung disease caused by tobacco, child respiratory disease and the problems caused by pollution.
For further information on the 6th Conference of The Union Europe Region, 4–6 July 2012, see the Conference website.
WHO/Europe also arranged for the Eleventh Meeting of the National TB Programme Managers to be webcast on 3 July.
The venue of the Programme Managers' meeting was:
Imperial College London
180 Queen’s Gate
South Kensington Campus
London SW7 2RH
United Kingdom
The venue of The Union meeting was:
Sherfield Building
Imperial College London
South Kensington Campus
Exhibition Road
London SW7 2AZ
