On World TB Day 2016, Georgian Members of Parliament (MPs) came together to announce the launch of the Georgian TB Caucus - the first national TB Caucus in Eastern Europe.
The Parliament of Georgia hosted the conference with cooperation with USAID TB Prevention Project (TPP) and attended by the US Ambassador - Mr. Ian Kelly and other US government officials, high officials of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, representatives of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC&PH), medical personnel of the National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NCTBLD), and representatives of TB Georgia Coalition including 17 NGOs.
In his message, the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Mr. David Usupashvili noted: “Today, on 24 March 2016, the Healthcare and Social Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia will be establishing a national parliamentary council against TB. Parliamentary initiative group of Georgian MPs is already engaged in the process of creating a regional (Europe and Asia) coalition against TB, which is planned to be launched at the end of June“.
The Vice-Speaker, Manana Kobakhidze also noted that Parliament of Georgia joined the Global TB Caucus, signed the Barcelona Declaration and thus expressed commitment to fight against TB. She highlighted the importance of the Health Care and Social Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia setting up the Anti-TB National Parliamentary Council – Georgia TB Caucus.
US Ambassador - Mr. Ian Kelly also Highlighted the importance of the involvement of Georgian MPs in the fighting against TB.
In their video appeals to the meeting, Executive Director of The Stop TB Partnership Dr. Lucica Ditiu and Co-chairperson of the Global TB Caucus - Rt Hon Nick Herbert gave their congratulations for the establishment of the Georgian TB Caucus.
The delegates spoke about WHO End TB new strategy, the Global TB Caucus’ objectives and tasks and discussed WHO European region Parliaments cooperation according to Global TB Caucus Action Plan.
The tasks, objectives and the provision of the Georgian National TB Caucus were introduced by Mr. George Khechinashvili. He spoke about global strategy, which in 20-year perspective envisages reduction of TB-related mortality with 95% and new TB cases with 90%. As the opposition MP, Mr. Giorgi Tsereteli noted, the Government and the opposition shall be united around such acute issues. He expressed commitment on behalf of the opposition to be actively involved in the activities.
Georgian artists were invited to create special works of art to commemorate World TB Day. The exhibit, “Georgian artists join global END TB movement,” displayed the original works at the Parliament building following the conference. The artists were awarded by Ms. Manana Kobakhidze for their thematic works.
The event was broadcast by several Georgian TV channels:
http://forumi.ge/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25750&Itemid=177
Source: Global TB Caucus