Global Forum on Advancing Multisectoral and Multistakeholder Engagement and Accountability to End TB!

Tuberculosis (TB) is significantly influenced by social and economic factors such as poverty, malnutrition, and inadequate living and working conditions, which increase the risk of TB infection and progression from infection to active disease. These factors also affect how individuals manage TB treatment, including dealing with medical, financial, and social challenges, which in turn impact treatment outcomes.

On June 23, an inaugural event kicked off a five-day program called the Global Forum on Advancing Multisectoral and Multistakeholder Engagement and Accountability to End TB at the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a multisectoral accountability framework to end TB, aiming to facilitate effective engagement across various sectors. This framework seeks to ensure equitable and affordable access to TB prevention and care for all affected individuals while strengthening global, regional, and national (including local) accountability mechanisms. These efforts are crucial for achieving the commitments and targets outlined in the End TB Strategy. This event was organized with the collaboration between Communicable Disease Surveillance (CDS) Unit of WHO Bangladesh, WHO headquarters, and SEARO.

In the inaugural ceremony, Dr Samanta Lal Sen, Hon'ble Minister of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare was present as Chief Guest. Dr Rokeya Sultana, State Minister of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and Md. Jahangir Alam, Secretary, Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare were present as Special Guests. In the event Dr Twrwza Kasaeva, Director, WHO Global TB Programme, Dr Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Representative to Bangladesh, and Mr Arif, TB survivor were present as guest of honours.

At the outset, Dr Kasaeva delivered a welcome speech to all invitees, highlighting that the Multisectoral Accountability Framework for TB (MAF-TB) is a key priority under the WHO Director-General’s flagship initiative to end TB. Following her address, Saima Wazed, Regional Director of WHO Southeast Asia, joined virtually and delivered a keynote under the theme "#HIT TB out of Bangladesh." In her speech, Ms. Wazed emphasized several critical points: Accelerating the establishment of high-level multisectoral accountability mechanisms, Ensuring outreach to the most marginalized and vulnerable groups, including women and children, with a commitment to leaving no one behind, Promoting meaningful community engagement in TB prevention and care efforts, Addressing social determinants of TB and associated comorbidities, including mental health, through a comprehensive multisectoral approach, Encouraging research and innovation through South-South collaboration, Advocating for a multi-country approach to collectively work towards ending TB. Following the Regional Director's speech in the formal session, the chief guest and special guests delivered their speeches. WHO representative delivered his insightful speech. Photo: Salma Sultana, WHO

Dr Bardan Jung Rana encouraged global TB experts, youth advocates, and partners from health and non-health ministries who gathered to pledge their commitment to collectively combat TB through multi-sectoral action. He expressed hope that this Global Forum to End TB, will establish a robust foundation for multisectoral engagement and set priorities for enhancing the multisectoral action framework. Dr Rokeya Sultana, Honorable State Minister of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, said, " Dr Rokeya Sultana, the Honorable State Minister of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, emphasizes that eliminating tuberculosis (TB) in Bangladesh requires coordinated efforts across multiple sectors and ensures accountability. Engaging a range of sectors and stakeholders and ensuring their accountability is essential for achieving this goal. Dr Samanta Lal Sen expressed, “effective engagement across sectors is needed to ensure access to equitable and affordable TB prevention and care for those affected and to strengthen accountability of all stakeholders at global, regional, and national levels towards reaching the End TB Strategy commitments and targets”.

The guests unveiled the operational handbook of Multisectoral Accountability for TB (MAF-TB) Bangladesh.
Photo: Mr Kiron, external photographer.

After the inaugural session, the guests proceeded to unveil the operational handbook of Multisectoral Accountability Framework for TB (MAF-TB) Bangladesh and signed the "Beat TB out of Bangladesh" cricket bat. During the five-day event, experts guided various interactive sessions, including advancing multisectoral engagement to end TB: Special spotlight on Bangladesh, country experience sharing: MAF-TB adaptation and roll-out, enhancing the engagement of civil society and communities as part of multisectoral efforts to end TB, Streamlining MAF-TB into National TB Strategic Plans, National MAF-TB development (action plan or component in NSP). Global Meeting of the working group on public-private mix (PPM) for TB prevention and care, WHO consultation on enhanced TB-PPM dashboards with seven PPM priority countries.

Participants from government, non-government, NGO, INGOs, Donors, civil society organizations, partners attended the workshop.
Photo: Mr Kiron, external photographer

There was overwhelming participation from Bangladesh at this Global Forum. Representatives from 10 ministries, relevant UN agencies such as UNICEF and FAO, donor partners including USAID, as well as national and international NGOs working in Bangladesh, were actively involved. They showcased their resources and capabilities and pledged their commitment to support the MAF #Hit TB out of Bangladesh initiative through various panel discussions that took place over two days.

This Global Forum meeting in Bangladesh has contributed to reinforcing the collaborative efforts with partners, civil society, and key stakeholders from both within and beyond the health sector. This initiative aimed to enhance capacity for managing Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB), ensure alignment and synergy across various sectors in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), and address the broader determinants of the TB epidemic. Additionally, it supports monitoring and reporting on progress in the global TB response.

For more information please contact: ssultana@who.int