12 July 2017. Accra, Ghana

The Global Coalition of TB Activists (GCTA) and Stop TB Partnership in collaboration with Afro Global Alliance and Stop TB Partnership Kenya conducted a workshop to build capacity of TB survivors from the Anglophone Africa region from, 8-10 July 2017.

The main objective was to engage, empower and mobilize TB community advocates and build their capacity to be effective advocates and contribute to the TB agenda in the region. The workshop brought together advocates from 10 countries who shared their journeys and stories of resilience from personal battle with TB. Every one in the room had lost at least one immediate family member to TB.

The group bonded well and came together outraged by the huge TB and TB/HIV burden in the region. The top advocacy priorities, stemming from the challenges shared, were identified as adequate resources for community-led TB services, social protection packages for people with TB and stigma reduction interventions.

The urgent need for a regional platform to advocate together was identified as the key to moving forward. In order to establish this, over the next three months a steering committee will work towards refining its vision, mission and advocacy priorities.

We were very glad that Dr. Frank Bonsu, Head, Ghana the National TB programme, Dr. Muyabala Munachitombwe, President of the Union Africa Region and other colleagues were able to join us for the workshop.

GCTA will continue to support setting up of regional coalitions and working towards making the voices of the communities heard at all levels to change the TB status quo.

Blessina Kumar

CEO, GCTA