6 February - Geneva - A group of tuberculosis (TB) activists have issued a Declaration of Intent that commits them to restructuring the Community Task Force (CTF) into a broader global coalition to represent communities affected by TB, multidrug-resistant TB and TB/HIV.
The CTF is composed of individuals who have served or are serving as community representatives in the Stop TB Partnership’s Working Groups or on its Coordinating Board.
The declaration is the outcome of a three-day CTF PLUS meeting in Geneva, hosted by the Stop TB Partnership, which gathered 30 activists including past and present CTF members.
The new global coalition, which will initially be composed of a small group of activists working on behalf of communities at the national and regional levels, will launch and begin recruiting additional members on World TB Day, 24 March 2013.
The declaration was signed by Blessina Kumar and Carol Nawina-Nyirenda, the co-chairs of the CTF PLUS meeting. Both are members of the Stop TB Partnership Coordinating Board representing communities affected by TB. Ms Kumar is also Vice-Chair of the Board.
The full text of the declaration is as follows:
"WE, TB advocates and former TB patients of the Community Task Force-CTF and other participants attending the CTF PLUS Meeting February 4-6th 2013 in Geneva issue a Declaration of Intent to commit to re-structuring the CTF and expanding into an inclusive Global Coalition with representation at Regional and National levels for communities affected by TB, MDR-TB and TB/HIV co-infection.
WE, shall work in the interim towards the launch of the Coalition to take place on World TB Day, 24th March 2013."
Source: Stop TB Partnership