23/10/07 - Representatives of 49 countries across the European region attended a high level ministerial meeting in Berlin on the 22nd October 2007. The meeting was called on an emergency basis to advance development of a Europe-wide approach to controlling and eventually eliminating TB. The European region in this case is defined as 53 countries that span from Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Asian Countries and right across Russia to the Pacific coast.
Dr Jorge Sampaio, the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy to Stop TB and former President of Portugal was the keynote speaker. He said; ""In our globalizing world, to successfully combat the threat of TB, a common strategy is critical," Dr Sampaio added that it is vital for "the European Union, as well as other major organizations, like for instance the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Council of Europe, the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and others to join forces to address the TB epidemic and face the common threats of the emerging MDR-TB."
Also one of the speakers was The Tuberculosis Survival Project's Director, Paul Thorn. He delivered a well-received presentation about what it is like to have TB. He said; "There was lots of talk about statistics at the meeting. I wanted to remind the ministers, and everyone else present, that TB is about real people, real lives, and too many real deaths and not just numbers. I tried to keep it personal and to humanise the issue."
The gathered Ministers endorsed the Berlin Declaration on Tuberculosis, which "notes with concern that TB has re-emerged as an increasing health security threat in the WHO European Region" and "recognises that a Europe-wide approach will be key to the control and eventual elimination of TB". The declaration also calls for the adoption of the Stop TB Strategy in all its components, including addressing the funding gap between the total resources available and the resources needed to control TB and accelerate the development of new diagnostics, drugs and vaccines to achieve the 2015 Millennium Development Goal on TB.
"Today, European ministers have demonstrated their commitment to stopping TB," said Dr Marcos Espinal, Executive Secretary of the Stop TB Partnership, Geneva. "Now they must exert leadership on increasing domestic spending on TB. And donor countries that have signed this declaration need to make a stronger commitment to vulnerable neighbouring countries that bear a heavy burden of TB by dedicating greater funds and technical assistance. Additionally, it is vital that the Global Fund continue supporting these countries for many more years."
Also signed was an "Offer of Partnership
from civil society and affected communities who play a vital role in
the efforts to combat TB in the European region. The "Offer of Partnership"
was drafted through an open online editing process. The document sets
out the vision and role that civil society and affected communities
can offer to governments and health authorities and their expectations
in return for this partnership.
LINKS
To find out more about the "Berlin Declaration" click here
To find out more about the "Offer of Partnership" click here
