Ethiopia Hosts Key Meeting on Tuberculosis Control in Africa

Addis Ababa: A crucial meeting of National Tuberculosis (TB) Program Coordinators from the Southern and Eastern Africa Region began today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The three-day event marks the inaugural Annual Meeting of the Southern and Eastern Africa Regional Network for Tuberculosis (SEARN-TB) and comes at a critical juncture in the global battle against tuberculosis (TB).According to Ethiopian News Agency, Ethiopian State Minister of Health, Dereje Duguma, officially opened the meeting, underscoring the importance of the SEARN-TB network in strengthening regional collaboration and aligning TB control strategies. He emphasized the network's crucial role in supporting operational research, which is essential for developing evidence-based approaches to TB prevention, control, and care.State Minister Dereje stressed the significance of sharing experiences and best practices among member countries, highlighting that this collective effort is key to eliminating TB across Africa and beyond. He expressed con fidence that the network will amplify Africa's voice in the global TB response. 'This network represents a covenant, a commitment to harmonize strategies, share innovations, and ensure Africa's voice is heard globally in the fight against TB,' said the State Minister.He acknowledged SEARN-TB's progress since its launch in 2023, particularly the support from key partners. While recognizing achievements in TB control, he also pointed to ongoing challenges, including conflicts, migration, climate change, funding uncertainties, and the continued need for advancements in TB treatment research.He urged member countries to renew their commitment to self-sufficiency by boosting domestic resource mobilization and ensuring the efficient use of available funds. He also emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships, engaging civil society organizations, and leveraging global health funding to maximize impact.State Minister Dereje called on participants to focus on three main areas during the discussions: sharing experiences and celebrating successes, fostering cross-border collaboration, and reviewing the network's progress while planning its future direction. He highlighted Ethiopia's success in transitioning out of the high-burden category for multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) as an example of progress despite ongoing challenges.Furthermore, he stressed the importance of regional collaboration to effectively address the cross-border nature of TB transmission. The State Minister reaffirmed Ethiopia's commitment to the fight against TB and expressed confidence that the collaborative efforts within the SEARN-TB network will accelerate the implementation of effective TB policies and strategies.He also underscored the network's significant contribution to the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB and its role in driving innovation in TB diagnostics and treatment. The meeting is scheduled to conclude on February 19, 2025.