On the 6th of May, Focal Points (FPs) of The Global TB Caucus (GTBC) in the Eastern Europe Central Asia (EECA) region participated in a virtual meeting to initiate planning for the upcoming launch of The Global TB Caucus Platform of Civil Society Experts (Platform of Experts). The unique knowledge platform presents a one of a kind opportunity to deepen relationships between civil society (CSOs) and Members of the Caucus to strengthen the fight against tuberculosis (TB) .
Participants were FPs from Ukraine (Ms Aleksandra Vasylenko), Belarus (Ms Natalia Kryshtafovich), Kyrgyzstan (Ms Chynara Bakirova), Azerbaijan (Mr Elchin Mukhtarli), Republic of Moldova (Ms Oxana Rucsineanu), Georgia (Ms Mari Chokheli), Armenia (Ms Anahit Harutyunyan), and Uzbekistan (Mr Serhey Uchaev).
The briefing provided by the CSO partners of the GTBC on current projects and challenges in parliamentary level TB policy advocacy informed a list of potential members of the Platform of Experts from the EECA region, which will guide further meetings. Discussions included:
A summary/overview of current work, with particular focus on engagement with parliamentarians during the COVID-19 pandemic
Challenges in engaging MPs in the region
Potential activities for parliamentarians to ensure that TB services, funding, and R&D will continue to function properly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Outcomes achieved from the meeting will be presented to EECA Regional Co-chairs at the beginning of June, where it will influence the regional strategy moving forward.
Link to the recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MY2IbXMFFWJdaV-fZb6vd-nSne265SuF/view?usp=sharing
What is a Focal Point?
Greater political engagement on TB is critical to accelerating progress against the disease, but parliamentarians know that local support of the community affected by the TB epidemic is essential to successful advocacy. The Global TB Caucus strives to identify civil society organisations in every country that are motivated to work with their local parliamentarians in the fight against TB as Focal Points.
GTBC Focal Points are autonomous independent organisations supported by the Caucus through training and technical assistance to help parliamentarians develop political leadership to end TB. Although we do not directly fund the work of Focal Points, and the decisions and actions of national groups do not bind the Global TB Caucus, nor do decisions made by the Caucus have any influence over the actions of national groups, we do recognise the critical value of their role in developing political leadership and impact in the TB response and aim to support it in all ways possible