Jorge Sampaio says goodbye to his TB post at the UN, but who is his replacement?
After six years as UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Stop Tuberculosis, Jorge Sampaio’s time has come to an end. In a farewell message Sampaio, who only fully realised the full magnitude of TB when becoming Special Envoy, reminds world dignitaries that:
Jorge Sampaio
‘it is unacceptable for so many people to suffer and die from a preventable and curable disease [and] urged them to take concrete steps in the fight against tuberculosis by ensuring access to care, providing adequate funding, and empowering communities’
Significantly, Sampaio also asserts that TB must be placed high in the global post-2015 development agenda so that we can reach for the aspirational goal of zero TB deaths, zero TB disease and zero suffering. We endeavour to do all we can to make our leaders in the EU and beyond aware of the devastating impact of TB. In doing so, they should be motivated to fight against TB and ensure that they will take action and do all they can to reach zero deaths, disease and suffering.
However, worryingly the UN has announced no replacement to take up Sampaio’s position as UN Special Envoy to Stop Tuberculosis. Therefore, we are calling on the UN to make an announcement with the hope they will appoint a successor. Everything must be done to help the fight against TB, now more than ever with the continuing rise of drug-resistant TB strains and the ongoing post-2015 discussion.
Source: TB Europe Coalition
