COMMEMORATION OF WORLD TB DAY TH MARCH 2016 THEME. Unite to End TB.

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1 COMMEMORATION OF WORLD TB DAY TH MARCH 2016 THEME Unite to End TB. World TB Day message from the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme

2 Background What is World TB Day? World TB Day is held each year on March 24th and aims to build public awareness for tuberculosis. A disease which despite being curable, remains a destructive epidemic in much of the world. On this day, we commemorate Dr Robert Koch s announcement in 1882 of his discovery of the TB bacillus, the cause of tuberculosis. His ground breaking research opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease. World TB Day is an opportunity for people everywhere to join this fight by helping to educate others about TB and by urging governments to take action. We believe that together we can End TB for once and for all: Unite to End TB! Facts about Tuberculosis globally and South Sudan Global situation TB is preventable and curable but kills three people every minute TB is the world s leading infectious disease killer, with more deaths every year than AIDS or Malaria TB does not discriminate; it is transmitted by Air and can affect anyone. However, low income countries are disproportionally affected by TB. More women die of TB Each Year than of all caused of maternal mortality combined. Pregnant women living with TB are twice as likely to have premature babies, and their babies are 6 times more likely to die within a few weeks of birth. In 2014, there were almost 500,000 New Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB) cases registered and 190,000 died from MDR-TB, a form of disease which does not respond to the usual treatment course. Less than ¼ people who developed MDR-TB in 2014 were started on Appropriate treatment and only 50% of those started on MDR-TB treatment were cured. Between the years 2000 and 2014, 43 million lives have been saved through diagnosis and treatment, yet at the current rate of dceline of 1.5% per year, we will not end TB by unless counties adopt an ambitious new agenda. South Sudan TB situation The precise burden of TB is South Sudan in not known since the country has never carried out a prevalence survey. However, in 2015, World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) at 146/100,000, and mortality due to TB at 30/100,000 of the population.

3 Multi Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB) is estimated to be 1.8% and 19% in new and retreatment TB cases respectively. By end of 2015, 21 MDR-TB cases have been diagnosed in South Sudan. Management of MDR-TB cases has not been initiated. South Sudan has continued to register an increasing number of Tuberculosis cases over the years. In the last eight years, over 60,000 cases of TB were detected across the country and put on quality treatment. In 2015 alone, a record 10,333 cases of TB were detected and initiated on treatment marking a significant step in the fight against this deadly scourge. Treatment success has also been improving. In 2015, the treatment success rate was 78%. The global call to End TB In the 67 th World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Ministers of Health from across the world ADOPTED the W.H.O global strategy and targets for Tuberculosis prevention, care and control. The bold vision of the strategy is to END TB by 2035 through: - reduction in TB deaths by 95% - reduction in TB incidence by 95%, and - elimination of associated catastrophic costs for TB affected house holds The principles of the global strategy being: - government stewardship and accountability, - coalition building with affected communities and civil society, - equity, human rights and ethics, and - adaptation to fit the needs of each epidemiological, socio-economic and health system context

4 The three pillars of the strategy are: - integrated, patient centered care and prevention, - bold policies and supportive systems, - Intensified research and innovation. South Sudan response to END TB The Republic of South Sudan has developed a strategic plan with a goal of contributing in the reduction of TB prevalence by 30%. The key objectives of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme Strategic Plan (NSP) are: 1. To increase the number of notified TB cases to at least 24,000 in To increase the treatment success rate of bacteriologically confirmed TB cases from 72% in 2012 to at least 85% by To achieve a treatment success rate of at least 75% among enrolled Multi Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB) patients by To reduce death rate during TB treatment in TB/HIV co-infected patients from 11% to less than 5% by To strengthen overall NTP program management capacity to achieve at least 80% of program targets by To achieve above objectives, requires a budget of 57.5 Million USD. The Government is grateful to development partners like the Global Fund to Fight Aids Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFTM) and the USAID - Challenge TB Project for pledging to fund part of the TB strategy for South Sudan. However, there are still immense challenges facing TB control that need to be addressed if we are to be able to join the rest of the world to indeed end TB by Among the challenges include: 1. Low funding. Only 30% of resources needed to fund the TB NSP have been earmarked through the funding from the GFATM and USID. 2. There is still no Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant TB in the country, 3. the TB section of the Public Health laboratory is not completed, 4. Access to TB diagnosis and treatment is limited. There are 87 health facilities with TB services throughout the country representing only 8% of functional health services. 5. Tuberculosis services are not fully integrated into the general health services, and 6. Limited engagement of communities in TB control. In order to address above challenges and join the rest of the world to end TB by 2035, we need the following actions: 1. Financial support for increasing access to TB diagnosis and treatment, 2. Promotion of the Health Policy of the Ministry of health on use of Home Health Promoters in community TB prevention, care and control 3. We need communities, people affected and civil society fully involved in the fight against this deadly scourge.

5 4. The Ministry of Health is committed to implement its policy of making TB services an integral part of the Primary Health Care System. Our own Government is committed to support implementation of TB services through payment of salaries of staff working in facilities. In conclusion, Tuberculosis still remains a significant force in the cause of mortality and morbidity not only in South Sudan but the world over. In 2015, it superseded malaria, HIV/AIDS and maternal mortality as leading causes of death. The Ministry of Health is calling on all partners, civil society and communities to prioritise TB prevention, care and control interventions in all our health programmes if we are to END TB by Signed, ` Manager National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Ministry of Health

FOREWORD. Member States in 2014 places patients and communities at the heart of the response. Here is an introduction to the End TB Strategy.

FOREWORD. Member States in 2014 places patients and communities at the heart of the response. Here is an introduction to the End TB Strategy. FOREWORD We stand at a crossroads as the United Nations move from the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. Integral to this transition, the world