2022-06-06-世界卫生组织-Meeting_of_the_WHO_Civil_Society_Task_Force_on_TB,_8-9_June_2022_13页_466kb

Summary of the WHO Civil Society Task Force on TB Meeting (8-9 June 2022)

Core Content

The WHO Civil Society Task Force on TB (CSTF) convened a two-day in-person meeting in Geneva on 8-9 June 2022, under strict health and safety protocols due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting aimed to strengthen civil society and community engagement in the global TB response, evaluate the ENGAGE-TB approach, and plan for the post-2022 mandate and transition to new members. The CSTF, composed of fifteen members from diverse countries and backgrounds, continues to advocate for the inclusion of TB-affected communities and civil society in global health strategies.

Main Objectives

• To review the current status and future perspectives of civil society engagement at global, regional, and country levels.
• To discuss the CSTF mandate post-2022 and develop a transition plan to new membership.
• To provide inputs to the draft WHO guidance on community and civil society engagement to end TB.
• To convene a CSTF Town Hall with the participation of the WHO Director-General, to raise visibility and gather feedback from civil society and affected communities.

Key Topics and Discussions

Status and Future Perspectives on Civil Society Engagement

• All WHO regional offices recognize the importance of civil society and TB-affected communities in TB elimination efforts.
• Best practices were shared, such as the scaling up of ENGAGE-TB in the Africa (AFRO) and Americas (AMRO) regions, and the MAF-TB in the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO).
• SEARO highlighted the inclusion of civil society in regional technical advisory groups and green light committees.
• WPRO emphasized the need for strong civil society engagement in the Western Pacific regional framework.
• Common challenges include slow progress in national/subnational engagement, insufficient investment, and the need for guidance on measuring engagement.

CSTF Mandate Post-2022 and Transition

• The secretariat presented the post-2022 mandate, focusing on the transition to new members, knowledge transfer, and redefining the role of the CSTF.
• There was a suggestion to extend the current membership until after the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB.
• A steering/mentor group from past members was proposed to ensure continuity and knowledge transfer.
• The term "Task Force" was recommended for review to better reflect the group’s objectives and role.

WHO Guidance on Community and Civil Society Engagement

• The secretariat introduced the new WHO guidance on community and civil society engagement, building on ENGAGE-TB experiences.
• The guidance will be aligned with the Primary Health Care (PHC) framework and the End TB Strategy, while incorporating lessons from the pandemic.
• Key recommendations include:
  • Clear definitions of communities and civil society.
  • Community-led monitoring and inclusive processes.
  • People-centered approaches and ethical considerations.
  • Translation and simplification of guidance for better understanding.
  • Additional indicators for global reporting, such as access to social support, food security, and quality of care, with a gender-sensitive and human rights-focused approach.

Key Recommendations

• WHO should continuously document and track CSTF engagements to ensure accountability.
• The Terms of Reference (ToR) of CSTF should be reviewed to reflect current experiences and necessary skills (e.g., diplomacy, research).
• New members are needed to ensure sustainability, while retaining institutional memory.
• The term "task force" should be reconsidered to better align with the group's objectives.
• WHO regional and country offices should collaborate with CSTF members to organize consultations and Town Halls.
• A community-led engagement plan should be developed to institutionalize the town hall platform and proactively engage with civil society and communities.

CSTF Town Hall

• A public Town Hall was held, with 150 participants joining virtually.
• The session aimed to highlight CSTF priorities and achievements, and gather recommendations for future engagement.
• Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus and CSTF members emphasized the need for increased political commitment, accountability, and visibility of CSTF work.
• Open dialogue was facilitated through SLIDO, with two key questions:
  • How can CSTF priorities better address the needs of affected individuals/communities?
  • How can CSTF engage more closely with broader civil society and affected communities?

Next Steps

• Publish a joint statement with the WHO Director-General on urgent actions for the 2023 UNHLM on TB.
• Ensure representation of high burden countries in CSTF membership.
• Develop a novel communication approach to address TB stigma and discrimination.
• Translate guidance into various languages for better community understanding.
• Institutionalize the Town Hall platform and proactively reach out to civil society and communities from other organizations such as the Stop TB Partnership, Global Fund, and UNITAID.

Participants

• CSTF Members:

  • Jeffry Acaba (Thailand)
  • Yuliya Chorna (Canada)
  • Chamreun Sok Choub (Cambodia)
  • Harry Hausler (South Africa)
  • Jamilya Ismoilova (Tajikistan)
  • Bertrand Kampoer (Cameroon)
  • Roger Kamugasha (Uganda)
  • Amir Khan (Pakistan)
  • Evaline Kibuchi (Kenya)
  • Blessina Kumar (India)
  • Tenzin Kunor (USA)
  • Nyan Win Phyo (Thailand)
  • Ezio Távora dos Santos Filho (Brazil)
  • Paran Winarni (Indonesia)

• WHO Regional Staff:

  • Frank Lule, Michel Gasana (AFRO)
  • Pedro Avedillo (AMRO)
  • Martin van den Boom, Kenza Bennani (EMRO)
  • Askar Yedilbayev (EURO)
  • Vineet Bhatia (SEARO)
  • Rajendra Yadav, Kyung Hyun Oh, Kalpeshsin Rahevar (WPRO)

• WHO Headquarters:

  • Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Director-General)
  • Dr Ren Minghui (Assistant Director-General)
  • Dr Terezza Kasaeva (Director, GTB)
  • Karina Halle, Farai Mavhunga, Andrea Deluca, Tauhid Islam, Lana Syed, Ganendra Kristandya

Conclusion

The meeting underscored the critical role of civil society and affected communities in the global fight against TB. It emphasized the need for greater investment, inclusive and ethical engagement, and effective monitoring and evaluation. The CSTF remains committed to advocacy, knowledge sharing, and capacity building, while WHO is encouraged to strengthen its collaboration with civil society and ensure sustainable engagement in the post-2022 era.