In a significant move towards ending tuberculosis, regional leaders, parliamentarians, and stakeholders gathered in Tashkent to reinforce their commitment to achieving the UN High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) targets on TB.
24-25 June 2024—Last month, Stop TB Partnership (STBP) and WHO Europe organised their ‘Regional Dialogue in Europe and Central Asia on Achieving the UN High-Level Meeting Commitments on Tuberculosis’ (TB) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This landmark regional meeting brought together key stakeholders and parliamentarians from participating countries to strategize on strengthening national and regional TB responses, with the shared vision of ending the TB epidemic by 2030.
A Collaborative Effort for a Common Goal
The meeting provided a platform for discussing the key UNHLM 2023 global targets and commitments, alongside country-level goals. Participants shared best practices on how countries prioritise actions and resource mobilisation to achieve these targets and commitments. The event also focused on planning activities to increase awareness and engagement of political leadership and stakeholders on TB response, strategizing to boost funding for TB responses from domestic budgets and external financing sources, and sharing experiences on improving access to TB prevention, diagnosis, and care, and scaling up innovations.
The delegation of Global TB Caucus Members of Parliament (MPs) included: Regional Co-chairs of Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Hon. Jamshed Murtazozod (Tajikistan) and Hon. Narek Zeynalyan (Armenia), Hon. Guldara Nurumova (Head of the Kazakhstan TB Caucus), Members of the Armenian TB Caucus: Hon. Arpine Davoyan and Hon. Lusine Badalyan, Hon. Sedaqet Valiyeva (Head of the Azerbaijan TB Caucus).
During the event, Caucus members actively participated in panel discussions and working groups moderated by Ms. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of STBP. Key topics included funding the region's TB response, prioritising TB interventions, strengthening national health systems, and moving towards universal coverage.
Highlighting the Role of Parliamentarians
During the event, Hon. Badalyan emphasised the need for more MPs in budget discussions with national TB stakeholders, highlighting the critical role MPs play in voting for the national budget.
Hon. Murtazozod, Hon. Zeynalyan, and Hon. Nurumova participated in a panel discussion on "Countries' and partners' vision for strengthening the response to and ending TB in the region," where they stressed the importance of a multistakeholder approach and collaboration in achieving UN HLM targets.
Kazakhstan's Commitment to Ending TB
In her speech during the panel discussion, Hon. Guldara Nurumova emphasised Kazakhstan's dedication to eradicating TB, stating: "Kazakhstan is a country that has joined the political declaration of the UN High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis and is implementing the End TB strategy aimed at eliminating tuberculosis as an epidemic by 2035. Our nation is committed to providing sustainable funding for tuberculosis services and collaborating with technical partners and international organisations."”
Kazakhstan has secured political support from the government, with regulatory acts, protocols, and new tuberculosis guidelines aligned with WHO recommendations. More than 98% of TB control activities are funded by the state budget, ensuring program sustainability and positive outcomes. International grants catalyse innovative diagnostic and treatment methods in the country. All modern treatment regimens recommended by WHO for TB, drug-resistant TB, and TB infection have also been implemented in Kazakhstan.
Towards the Future
The meeting in Tashkent was pivotal in reinforcing the importance of joint efforts and multi-stakeholder cooperation in the region to address the TB epidemic. The dialogue fostered stronger relationships and set the stage for future collaborative actions with parliamentarians, ensuring continued progress towards achieving the UN HLM commitments on TB.
Kazakhstan’s parliamentarians welcome international cooperation and are ready to continue working together to end TB.
About the Global TB Caucus
The Global TB Caucus is the world's largest independent parliamentary network with over 2,500 members from over 150 countries. The network covers 4 geographic regions: Europe and Central Asia, Africa, America, Asia-Pacific and 2 language regions - Francophone and Portuguese. Parliamentarians of the Caucus work both collectively and individually to accelerate progress in the fight against TB.
For more information, please contact:
Alesia Matuseyvych
Global TB Caucus