On March 24, when we commemorate the World TB Day, we recognize that in the fight to stop TB much has been achieved, and yet, much is to be done.
Tuberculosis has affected societies like few other infectious diseases, and it remains a major public health challenge. TB is curable, but its current detection, prevention, and treatment options still present significant challenges. The fight to stop TB requires fresh resources in the invention of new drugs, diagnostic devices and vaccines.
In the European Region, where countries face a decreasing TB incidence rate, the strategic approach to stop TB should focus on metropolitan areas, and working with and among vulnerable groups with a TB incidence above the national average. Further, developing and implementing national TB programmes within the framework of the European Action Plan to Fight Tuberculosis, is a necessary step for countries with higher incidence.
The investment in TB control in the countries of the European Union involves investment in both domestic and international TB control. In this context, two major issues need to be addressed: 1) TB is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV/AIDS, 2) The number of MDR-TB cases in on the rise. Yet, the dedication and hard work of public health officials should not allow these rates to increase. Civil society engagement as well as public-private partnerships are key in the design, implementation, and evaluation of TB and TB/HIV policies at the national, regional, and international level.
