Enhancing the capacity and capability of European civil society to drive a person-centred TB response in Europe

ended

TB is one of the leading infectious disease causes of death in the world, surpassed only by COVID-19 in 2020, and is the leading cause of death among People Living with HIV (PLHIV). The WHO Europe region in particular is home to several high-priority countries for drug resistant TB. TB Europe Coalition (TBEC) is the only regional civil society network working exclusively on TB in the WHO Europe region and, with 320 members across 34 different countries throughout the WHO European region, representing 17 EU Member States of the European Union, is uniquely positioned to increase the political will amongst decision-makers and strengthen necessary capabilities amongst its members to end the TB epidemic across the region. The project strives to continue to strengthen TBEC’s role as the leading voice of TB-interested civil society across the WHO Europe Region, by building the capacity of civil society to push national governments to ensure that political commitments to end TB are met. This is particularly important given the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the TB epidemic; current estimates suggest that the pandemic has set back progress made on tackling TB by at least 5 years and will result in a significant rise in TB mortality. TBEC has identified three key objectives for the 2022 work plan: 1) High performing, accountable and united regional TB network; 2) Building CSO capacity and skills to effectively influence policies; 3) TBEC to support the integration of a human rights approach to national TB responses. TBEC's objectives are directly relevant to the EU4Health’s objectives, including disease prevention & health promotion, prevention, and improving access to healthcare, among others. The foreseen activities will further increase the EU's existing public health knowledge on TB, advance coordinated efforts to fight DR-TB and TB-HIV co-infection, as well as mental health comorbidities, thereby reducing the financial burden on national healthcare systems.