World TB Day 2013
http://www.who.int/campaigns/tb-day/2013/en/index.html
WHO celebrates World TB Day 2013 on 24 March with the slogan “Stop TB in My Lifetime”. Progress towards global targets of reducing TB cases and deaths in recent years has been impressive, but at least US$ 1.6 billion is needed annually to prevent the spread of the disease. According to WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan, “we have gained a lot of ground in TB, but it can easily be lost if we do not act now.”

Media Release: World Health Organization and Global Fund cite tuberculosis threat
Urgent need for US$ 1.6 billion a year in international financing to prevent spread of disease
WHO/Global Fund joint news release
Excerpt
“…WHO and the Global Fund have identified an anticipated gap of US$ 1.6 billion in annual international support for the fight against tuberculosis in 118 low- and middle-income countries on top of an estimated US$ 3.2 billion that could be provided by the countries themselves. Filling this gap could enable full treatment for 17 million TB and multidrug-resistant TB patients and save 6 million lives between 2014-2016…

“It is critical that we raise the funding that is urgently needed to control this disease,” said Global Fund Executive Director Dr Mark Dybul. “If we don’t act now, our costs could skyrocket. It is invest now or pay forever.” …

In addition to the US$ 1.6 billion annual gap in international financing for the critical implementation interventions above, WHO and partners estimate that there is a US$ 1.3 billion annual gap for TB research and development during the period 2014-2016, including clinical trials for new TB drugs, diagnostics and vaccines.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2013/tuberculosis_threat_20130318/en/index.html

 
Statement: Emergence of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Inadequate Funding Impeding Further Progress to Reduce Infections, Secretary-General Says in Message (22 March 2013)
SG/SM/14899-OBV/1202

Speech: WHO Director-General’s message on World TB Day
Dr Margaret Chan
Remarks at a press briefing on World Tuberculosis Day
Geneva, Switzerland
18 March 2013
http://www.who.int/dg/speeches/2013/world_tb_day_20130318/en/index.html

PAHO/WHO urges stepped-up efforts against TB in vulnerable urban groups in the Americas
The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) today called for stepped-up efforts to prevent and control tuberculosis in the Americas, especially in vulnerable populations living in large cities.  Despite significant advances against TB, the disease continues to be the second-leading…

Stop TB in South-East Asia – zero death to zero infection
South-East Asia accounts for 40% of the world’s burden of tuberculosis. However, with greater public awareness of TB, increased number of cases being detected, and more people having access to adequate treatment, the number of deaths due to the disease has declined by 40% since 1990, and the Region is on track to achieve the global target of 50% reduction in death rates (compared with 1990) by 2015.

Adequate treatment essential to stop tuberculosis across Europe – WHO/ECDC new report
19-03-2013
Over 1000 patients are estimated to fall sick with tuberculosis (TB) every day across Europe – or over 380 000 yearly – signalling that there is no room for complacency when it comes to TB prevention and control. Marking World TB Day, the WHO Regional Office for Europe and ECDC today released new surveillance data for 2011.  The data show that while overall the number of TB cases has come down at a rate of 5% per year, countries in the eastern part of the WHO European Region bear 87% of the burden. These countries also recorded most of the estimated 44 000 TB deaths in 2011. The European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) countries reported over 72 000 cases of TB, which signifies a 4% decrease compared to 2010.