World TB Day - March 24, 2013

Spotlight Event  |   TB throughout History  |  Events  |   Join the Conversation  |   Additional Resources

Featured Report

    

Accelerating Impact. Expanding Access to Care: U.S. Government Report to Congress on International Foreign Assistance for TB

The new FY 2011/12 Report to Congress on TB highlights key programmatic achievements and collaboration of the different U.S. Government agencies involved in global TB programs, bringing comparative expertise to address the many challenges of TB. It includes the latest data on key results for USAID-funded TB activities and highlights successful projects in Malawi, Brazil, Afghanistan, and Cambodia, among others. Download the full report [PDF, 5.3MB].

World TB Day gives the global community the opportunity to raise awareness about TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment and to support worldwide efforts to address this public health challenge. The global fight against the disease remains fragile. We are now at a crossroads between TB elimination within our lifetime and millions more TB deaths. We can eliminate TB through partnerships, research, early diagnosis, better access to treatment, advocacy, and social mobilization. By identifying cases early and treating new and existing cases, we can create communities around the world that are TB free!

USAID is a global leader in scaling up effective interventions for TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care worldwide. See the map of all the countries that USAID is supporting in global efforts to end TB [PDF, 239KB].

SPOTLIGHT EVENT

Honoring Champions in the Global Fight against Tuberculosis

TB is one of the world's best buys in global health because it is usually curable with inexpensive drugs. Major innovations in TB are on the horizon that will reduce suffering and save money. Thanks to bold leadership, progress in the fight against TB has accelerated in the past year. Help us celebrate those leaders in the fight against TB by joining us at the Newseum or via live stream. The event, cohosted by USAID, Global Health and Diplomacy, RESULTS, and ATS, is on Wednesday, March 20, 2013, from 6:30PM-8:30 p.m. at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

Host Dr. Ariel Pablos-Méndez, assistant administrator for Global Health at USAID, and special guest Ambassador Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, will be honoring and recognizing global patient-advocates and champions in the fight against TB with achievement awards.

Achievement Awards

  • Senator Sherrod Brown
  • Representative Eliot Engel
  • Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia
  • Treatment Action Group
  • The GeneXpert Technology Development Team (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, and Cepheid)

Read more about their contributions to TB and view their biographies.

TB THROUGHOUT HISTORY

For centuries, TB has been a major scourge for humanity. The disease has affected all types of people – from artists to First Ladies – and has made the headlines countless times. Today, TB is still a highly contagious bacterial disease spread by coughing and sneezing. In 2011, more than 1.4 million people died of TB. It's the second-leading cause of death from infectious disease worldwide.

Click on the screen shots below to see the full poster. Headlines [PDF, 279KB], The Arts [PDF, 899KB], Famous People [PDF, 1.3MB], and Path to TB Innovation [PDF, 1.2MB].

EVENTS AROUND WASHINGTON, D.C.

Tuesday, March 19
PAHO and USAID Commemorate World Tuberculosis Day and Efforts to Combat the Deadly Disease across the Americas
10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
525 23rd Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037
The panel discussion will highlight current efforts to control tuberculosis in urban centers in Latin America, where concentrated pockets of disease exist and affect vulnerable populations. Speakers will discuss efforts in various cities to combat the disease and the successes, gaps, and challenges faced. The event will be live streamed in English and Spanish.
Wednesday, March 20
Honoring Champions in the Global Fight against Tuberculosis 
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
555 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001
Join us at the Newseum to recognize some of the bold leaders in the fight against TB. Watch via livestream. 
Thursday, March 21
USAIDGH Twitter Expert Hour
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
@USAIDGH
Join us for an expert hour with the TB Alliance for World TB Day. Send questions to @USAIDGH or @TBAlliance using the hashtag #GHhour.

Senate Briefing: Voices of Tuberculosis Survivors - closed event
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Senate Visitors Center Room 212, U.S. Capitol
This Senate briefing is co-sponsored by RESULTS, American Thoracic Society, PSI, Management Sciences for Health, and Treatment Action Group.

Royal Dutch Tuberculosis Foundation Honors USAID - closed event
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Residence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
2347 S Street N.W., Washington, D.C.
This award ceremony is to honor the U.S. Agency for International Development's eminence and leadership in the global fight against TB.
Sunday, March 24
World TB Day
Help celebrate the progress in the fight against TB. Join the conversation on social media using #worldTBday.


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Follow the World TB Day social media campaign and share the message with friends and family.

  • Follow @USAIDGH and retweet the message! Don't forget to use the #worldTBday hashtag.
  • Watch our Facebook page for updates and photos from events throughout the week.
  • Don't know what to say? Use some of these suggested tweets below to help spread the message.


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES