CNS: 2023

Will the world leaders walk the talk to end TB at the upcoming UN High Level Meeting?

Leaders of all the UN member countries are expected to convene on 22nd September 2023 at the upcoming second United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting (UNHLM) on TB (the first one was held in September 2018). The theme of this year's UNHLM is: “Advancing science, finance and innovation, and their benefits, to urgently end the global TB epidemic, in particular by ensuring equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment and care."

[podcast] Georgia's journey of reducing TB and drug-resistant TB rates

This podcast features Dr Nino Lomtadze, Head of Surveillance and Strategic Planning Department at Georgia's National TB Programme. Georgia was among the high MDR-TB burden countries till 2016 after which TB rates (including those of drug-resistant forms) have been dropping. TB decline has been 6-7% in recent years. TB surveillance and use of latest TB diagnostics and treatments have resulted in reduction in TB rates in Georgia.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[podcast] Would Seychelles be the first African country to end TB?

This podcast features Dr Louine Morel, Medical Registrar, Communicable Disease Control unit, Ministry of Health of Seychelles, who was on the panel for #EndTB Dialogues (season-2), #90for90 #GlobalVoices Series. Seychelles 100% funds its fight against tuberculosis and has managed to keep TB under bay. Although there has a rise in notified cases in the recent years. Listen to more insights from Dr Morel. Seychelles is likely to be the first country in Africa to end TB, hopes Dr Louine Morel.

[video] Vietnam study: 68% drop in TB if we screen all (not just those with symptoms) and link to standard treatment and care pathway

[podcast] Vietnam study: 68% drop in TB if we screen all (not just those with symptoms) and link to standard treatment and care pathway

Vietnam study shows 68% drop in new TB cases if we screen everyone (not just those with symptoms) and link them with standard treatment, care and support pathway. It is important to underline that Vietnam study had deployed WHO recommended molecular tests upfront to confirm TB (and rifampicin-resistant TB) and link those diagnosed with active TB disease to standard care.

This podcast features study co-author Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Binh Hoa, who is also the Vice Manager of Vietnam National TB Programme, Vice Director of National Lung Hospital, and Director of Vietnam Integrated Center for TB and Respirology Research (VICTORY), and Vice Director of Vietnam Global Fund TB project.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[video] Will people take back power to demand rights-based TB services and hold governments to account?

[podcast] Will people demand rights-based WHO recommended TB services and hold governments to account?

This podcast features Eloisa 'Louie' Zepeda-Teng, a TB survivor and powerful advocate, and founder of TB People Philippines. She survived one of the rare and serious forms of TB, due to which lost her vision but rose to build people-power to demand people-centred health responses which respect disability rights and inclusion.

This podcast features Ani Herna Sari, Chair of Rekat Peduli Indonesia Foundation (TB survivor organisation), who calls upon the governments to ensure access to best of WHO recommended diagnostics, treatments, care and support, and prevention services for everyone. Ani was a lecturer in one of the most prestigious academic institutions in Indonesia before the TB bacteria changed her life course, and led her to found Rekat Peduli Indonesia for larger good.

[podcast] Detecting TB early and accurately is critical part of #EndTB strategy: Know more about TB laboratory on wheels in Timor-Leste

This podcast features Dr Arvind Mathur, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Timor-Leste. Detecting the TB cases and the diagnostics are very critical part of the #EndTB Strategy, says Dr Mathur. He shares insights on range of ways we can increase new TB case detection by using existing diagnostic technologies in local contexts, rollout of best treatment regimens for TB, and care and support needs. He shines a spotlight on one of the best examples of reaching out and serving the unreached: the TB laboratory on wheels in Timor-Leste (a mobile van which has WHO recommended Truenat molecular test and portable x-ray).

[podcast] Fighting TB one 'Barangay' at a time: New decentralised & point-of-care tools making a difference

This podcast features Dr Samantha Tinsay, Municipal Health Officer, Bantayan Municipality, Cebu, Philippines, who shares her team's experience of deploying new TB diagnostic tools (ultra-portable x-ray of Fujifilm, and molecular test Truenat of Molbio Diagnostics) in Bantayan islands or islets.

More importantly. she shares the context how these new tools (xray and molecular test Truenat) were taken on a 'pump boat' (a utility boat in Philippines) from one islet to another for active case finding, and how these tools worked effectively on the ground - in very basic infrastructure (like under a tent) - and braving extreme weather conditions too.

[podcast] To detect TB is to fight TB: Diagnosis is critical entry point to TB care pathway

This podcast features Sumit Mitra, President of Global Sales and Marketing, Molbio Diagnostics, who asserts "To detect TB is to fight TB." Diagnosis is critical entry point to TB care pathway and towards #EndTB, he says. As per Government's 2021 and 2022 India TB Reports, Molbio's Truenat molecular test, was the most used molecular test in India to diagnose TB among those with presumptive TB, and detect drug resistance upfront. It is currently rolled out in over 40 countries - most of them are high TB burden nations in Asia and Africa. Apart from accurately diagnosing TB within an hour, Truenat molecular test is also effective in diagnosing a range of ~40 diseases, such as, malaria, HIV (viral load), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human papilloma virus (HPV), dengue, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), among others.

[podcast] Multi-disease, point-of-care and decentralised molecular testing should be the norm, says Sriram Natarajan

This podcast features Sriram Natarajan, cofounder and Chief Executive Officer of Molbio Diagnostics - who leads the team behind Truenat - the only World Health Organization (WHO) approved and recommended point-of-care and decentralised molecular test for TB globally. Timely and correct diagnosis helps to avert untimely deaths, and reduce human suffering, says Sriram Natarajan. For infectious diseases, timely and correct diagnosis helps break the chain of infection transmission. Diagnosis remains the key entry point to treatment and care pathway, and towards disease elimination.

[podcast] Global peace is integral to end TB goal, says Dr Hiam Yaacoub of Lebanon

This podcast features Dr Hiam Yaacoub, who has been the National TB Programme Manager of Lebanon since 2012. She is a senior specialist in respiratory medicine and TB at the Ministry of Public Health of Lebanon since 1994 onwards. A World Health Organization WHO TB and drug-resistant TB Expert, Dr Hiam Yaacoub is a noted part of Lebanese Pulmonary Society and Lebanese Order of Physicians since 1993.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[podcast] Is Indonesia on track to end TB by 2030? Insights from Dr Imran Pambudi

This podcast features Dr Imran Pambudi, Director of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Indonesia Ministry of Health. He is also a senior Medical Faculty of Airlangga University and ASEAN Institute of Health Development Program, Mahidol University, Thailand.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[podcast] Ghana's 100% TB molecular testing is vital yet a long way to end TB goalpost

This podcast features Dr Yaw Adusi-Poku, Programme Manager of National TB Control, Ghana Health Service. Dr Yaw Adusi-Poku is a senior Physician Specialist (public health) too.

[podcast] Is Kenya on track to end TB in next 88 months?

This podcast features Evaline Kibuchi, noted #endTB activist and leader, and Chief National Coordinator of Stop TB Partnership Kenya. She is a global health advocate with a key focus on TB with over ten years in advocacy.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[podcast] Laws for same sex marriage and adoption rights give hope in Taiwan

This podcast features Jennifer Lu, Director for Asia Programmes, Outright International. She is a dedicated activist for LGBTQIAP+ rights and political reform movements for over 20 years nationally and internationally. She is a social worker, lesbian feminist, author, and Taiwanese. Before joining Outright, Jennifer was Executive Director of Taiwan Equality Campaign, known as Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan - a leading organization that pushed marriage equality in Taiwan.

She was speaking as part of the #GenderEquality Talks #GETalksLive (season-2) #90for90 #GlobalVoices series.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[podcast] Ending TB and malaria are human rights imperative, says Aloyce Urassa

This podcast features Aloyce P Urassa from Tanzania, who is a public health scientist specialising in implementation and health systems research with a background in health laboratory sciences. He is currently the chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) Youth Advisory Council, a Board member of Rotarians Against Malaria - Global, and a Global Fund Advocates Network (GFAN) speaker.

He was speaking as part of the #EndTB Dialogues (season-2) #90for90 #GlobalVoices series.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

Thai key population-led organisations give hope for sustainable HIV financing

published in NAM aidsmap on 23 August 2023

When international HIV funding decreased, Thai organisations found new domestic funding and developed social enterprises

Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant

published in NAM aidsmap on 23 August 2023

Early and accurate TB diagnosis is the gateway to #endTB pathway

[हिन्दी] If we are to end TB, then we have to find every person with TB and offer accurate and timely diagnosis, treatment, care and support. In other words, we have to eliminate ‘delayed or missed diagnosis’ by making “early and accurate TB diagnosis” a norm, before we can further embark on the #endTB pathway with full force. By doing so, not only people with TB will get treated early on, but we might also have a better shot at breaking the chain of infection transmission.

Although governments have committed to achieve gender equality by 2030, yet the progress is way off the mark. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres had recently said that it will take another 300 years to achieve full gender equality. More worrying is the fact that transgender and other gender diverse people, often slip on the blind spot when many governments refer to gender equality and see it with sex and gender binary lens (man and woman, or male and female).

Mumbai shows triaging those with advanced HIV disease in government centres is feasible

published in NAM aidsmap | 8 August 2023

88% of those who received advanced HIV care package survived

Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant

published in NAM aidsmap | 8 August 2023

End stockouts of TB drugs and other supplies if we are to #endTB: says Peter Ngo'la Owiti

[podcast] TB drug and other stock-outs are not acceptable if we are to #endTB in Kenya

This Podcast features Peter Ngo’la Owiti, who is on the Executive Committee Board of Stop TB Partnership, and also represents communities on Medicines Patent Pool. He is also the Executive Director of the Wote Youth Development Projects, Kenya.

Listen to his insights on why stock-outs of medicines for drug-sensitive TB, essential needs which are required to refer patients, or of cartridges to run nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) molecular diagnostics such as Gene Xpert are not acceptable.

Tobacco industry has used deception and lies to market its deadly tobacco products and lure children and young people to killer addiction over the decades. But it was only data, science and evidence that provided rock solid ground to health justice and corporate accountability advocates worldwide to expose the nefarious designs of tobacco industry, and advance historic progress in form of global tobacco treaty, as well as range of domestic laws and its enforcement.

This podcast features Michaela Guthridge, a noted gender and women's human rights advocate, who connects the dots between effective #empathy and gender inequality. She also shares how it can help advance progress on commitments enshrined in legally-binding treaties such as CEDAW.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[podcast] Walk the talk on "no one is left behind" when it comes to all goals and targets of SDGs and transgender peoples

This podcast features Nachale Boonyapisomparn or Hua who is a trans woman activist who has founded powerful, successful support and advocacy groups and lasting networks to support health and human rights of transgender and LGB people locally and globally. Sisters and Thai TGA (Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights) are two transgender peoples-led organisations in Thailand - both of whom were co-founded by Hua, along with Asia Pacific Transgender Network. She is currently with Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice.

Strong local actions are pivotal to reduce NCDs, TB and tobacco use in Bangladesh

Unless global goals do not become a reality in the lives of every person worldwide, we will fail to deliver on those promises. Local actions are key. That is why the Mayors of several municipalities in Bangladesh and other local government leaders and experts had united to form the Bangladesh Mayors’ Alliance for Healthy Cities in 2019.

This podcast features Dr Piyanuch Wuttisorn, Director General of National Statistical Office of Thailand (TNSO), which was conferred upon the coveted 2023 World Health Organization (WHO) Director General's WNTD Award.

Dr Piyanuch has also served earlier as Inspector-General, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, Thailand; Director, Social Data-based and Indicator Development Office, Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council; Senior Advisor in Plan and Policy for Director of the International Cooperation office, Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council; and Secretary-General, Office of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission of Thailand.

Midway to Agenda 2030: Why are we off the track on gender equality?

With only 90 months left to fulfil the Agenda 2030 promises made by our governments 90 months ago, we are far off the track. A United Nations report released this week shows that out of the 114 countries studied, not one has achieved gender equality. Over 99% women and girls live in a country with low women’s empowerment and a big gender gap. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022 also had painted a grim picture, including on the progress made on delivering the goals for gender equality, which is crucial to achieving each of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This Podcast features Meena Seshu, a force for change on gender and development justice, especially for sex workers, dalit women, and other communities which are often 'left behind' in development discourses. She founded SANGRAM and also helped create VAMP (Veshya Anyay Mukti Parishad) - a collective of people in sex work.

This Podcast features Dr Jakkrapatara Boonruang (Dr Fair), who is a research physician at Thailand's Institute of HIV Research and Innovation (IHRI). He shares insights about gender affirming hormonal therapy for transgender people, barriers to its access, and recommendations on how to scale it up with inclusion, rights, ethics, people-centric approaches, and science.

[video] Gender-affirming hormonal therapy for transgender people: When will it become a reality for those in-need?

[podcast] Transgender rights are human rights, asserts Nhuun Yodmuang of APTN

This Podcast features Nhuun Wannapong Yodmuang of Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN), who is a Thai transgender woman and an advocate with an academic background in International Human Rights Law. She had worked with local and regional organisations on trans rights in the context of several countries in Asia, engaging with international advocacy spaces such as United Nation bodies.

She is in conversation with Sumita Thapar, CNS Special Correspondent, who is among those journalists who will be onsite at the upcoming Women Deliver 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.