Countdown to the first-ever UN High-Level Meeting on TB

All hands on deck needed! 90 days to go!

27 June 2018 | GENEVA – Only 90 days are left to the first-ever UN High-Level Meeting (HLM) on TB, which will bring together Heads of State in New York on 26 September 2018. Now is the time for everyone to engage, support, amplify messages and work to ensure a very successful event in September. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Stop TB Partnership together with partners are working to rally highest level participation and a strong political declaration for a successful and impactful UN HLM.

We are urging every single one of you to join our efforts by:

• Promoting UN HLM campaign materials: WHO and the Stop TB Partnership have put together key communications materials that can be used to promote the UN HLM through various media (print/web/social). These can be adapted to the local context. Send us pictures of your in-country activities, we will promote them via our social media platforms; we will also post the images on the UN HLM on TB World Map to showcase the global footprint of TB communities and survivors. Please find relevant materials on stoptb.org/UNHLMonTB and WHO/UNHLMonTB.

• Reaching out to political leaders at all levels: Write to your political leaders, tag them on social media and sign petitions to focus attention on the UN HLM and efforts to end TB. You can use already existing templates available on stoptb.org/UNHLMonTB.

• Marking the 60-day countdown towards the UN HLM: On 26 July we encourage you to join us as we amplify our call for Heads of State participation at the UN HLM on September 26through a unique social media campaign on Twitter and Facebook. We will provide the suggested Tweets, and Twitter handles of the priority Heads of State. We ask you all to amplify the Tweets and Facebook posts in YOUR COUNTRY and tag your local media and key opinion leaders. The success of this campaign will depend on our collective efforts and active participation. We ask you to help create visibility for the UN HLM in your country through every means possible.

• Marking the 30-day countdown towards the UN HLM: On 26 August we would like to ask you to join us and organize an activity or an event to mark the 30-day milestone to raise awareness about TB and the UN HLM on TB Political Declaration to stimulate high-level participation at the UN HLM. You can bring together your political representatives and community leaders, TB survivors, affected communities, civil society, and other partners at events/activities such as discussion forums, sporting events, workshops for journalists, art competitions, concerts, sponsored activities – anything that contributes to a better understanding of TB and builds visibility for the UN HLM. Think about involving End TB Champions and celebrities, especially those who are TB survivors. 

“The UN HLM on TB is a unique opportunity for unity and collaboration to elevate efforts to end TB to the highest political level,” said Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global TB Programme. “We urgently need all-hands-on-deck to ensure we have top leaders from countries participating in the UNHLM and committing to accelerate the End TB response with rapid action and investment. This is critical to end the suffering and death caused by this top infectious killer.”

“This is our meeting, and we all have to do something to make it a success. Every single one of us can contribute. It is the moment to show how many we are and how much we can achieve in a limited amount of time. We need thousands of people to use social media, to sign letters and to actively participate. TB requires an urgent global response and only being united we can achieve this.  Nothing less than that will make a difference,” said Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director, Stop TB Partnership.

For more information on the UNHLM please access:
stoptb.org/UNHLMonTB 
WHO/UNHLMonTB
President of the General Assembly

Source: Stop TB Partnership