Progress and Partnerships on World TB Day
As we mark another World Tuberculosis Day, Stop TB Canada is proud to stand alongside our domestic and global partners, volunteers, advocates, and political champions in the fight against this devastating disease. Building on last year’s successes, the #YesWeCanEndTB campaign continues to push for tangible progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating TB by 2030. Together, we have been raising awareness among the general public and decision-makers about the urgency of addressing TB, specifically asking for the Canadian government to increase its investments in TB R&D and to commit to the development of a National TB Elimination Strategy.
Read more about the impact we were able to collectively have this year.
Raising Public Awareness
In the global fight to end TB, every action counts. That’s why every year, the international community comes together to light prominent landmarks in red on March 24th. This movement is a global occasion to stand in solidarity with the millions of people who are affected by TB, and the millions who have lost their lives. It is also a call to action for governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
This year, Stop TB Canada joined our partners, including Results Canada and their committed volunteers, to successfully light 43 Canadian landmarks in red on World TB Day.
Stop TB Canada members joined partners at monuments across the country, including the CN Tower (Toronto), the Ottawa sign, and Olympic Stadium (Montreal). Thanks to all those who joined us to help commemorate World TB Day!
Stop TB Canada also hosted a webinar to serve as a check-in for TB advocates in Canada following the United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB that took place in September of 2023 to assess the progress we have made, and discuss next steps to fulfilling TB elimination commitments. Thank you to speakers Monica Shandal, Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Tina Campbell, Dr. Yassen Tcholakov, and Madlen Nash for your participation. You can watch the recording here.
Engaging Parliamentarians
To bring about policy changes and resource mobilization that can finally end TB, we need to build political will. Stop TB Canada is proud to work alongside our partners, volunteers and TB advocates across Canada in educating parliamentarians and building political champions who will push for action and investment.
#YesWeCanEndTB Parliamentary Reception
Members of Parliament Bonita Zarillo, Valerie Bradford and Ziad Aboultaif stand alongside Peter Sands (Executive Director of the Global Fund), Margaret Kisikaw Piyesis (CEO of CAAN) and Chris Dendys (Executive Director of Results Canada) at the #YesWeCanEndTB Parliamentary Reception.
On March 19, Stop TB Canada connected with parliamentarians across party lines at a parliamentary reception co-hosted with Results Canada to celebrate Canada’s efforts towards TB elimination and discuss what further action is needed to achieve this goal. The event highlighted how ending TB is a non-partisan issue – something that everyone should support. We are glad to stand alongside members of parliament who share our vision of a world without TB.
We would like to thank MPs Ziad Aboultaif, Valerie Brandford, Bonita Zarillo and Senator Rosemary Moodie for sponsoring the event and speaking to the urgent need for Canada to address the TB crisis, at home and abroad.
Special shoutout to Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, and Margaret Kisikaw Piyesis, CEO of CAAN, who were our keynote speakers for the event and to Dr. Uzma Khan, member of TBPeople Canada who closed the reception with her powerful remarks. As a physician, TB researcher, and survivor of ocular TB, Dr. Khan drove home a strong message about people centred care and the social aspects of TB. Thank you to everyone who participated in this event.
Meetings with Members of Parliament
Steering Committee members Petra Heitkamp, Dr. Robyn Waite & Suvesh Shrestha met with MP Yasir Naqvi ahead of World TB Day in Ottawa.
Ahead of World TB Day, Stop TB Canada met with Canadian parliamentarians to educate political officials about TB as a domestic and global health issue, build TB champions in parliament, and foster the political will to end TB everywhere.
Stop TB Canada met with parliamentarians across party lines, including MPs Chandra Arya, Jenica Atwin, Sonia Sidhu, and Yasir Naqvi, whom we would like to thank for their support and engagement with our mission.
Parliamentary champions for TB
Some parliamentarians went above and beyond this World TB Day to help raise awareness and strengthen Canada’s support of TB elimination efforts. We would like to thank MP Valerie Bradford for raising this issue in the House of Commons. You can find the recording here. Thank you to Senator Rosemary Moodie for raising TB in the Senate as well. You can find the recording here.
We would also like to thank MPs Niki Ashton, Don Davies, and Lori Idlout for writing a powerful letter to Minister of Health, Mark Holland, calling for greater action to address the ongoing TB outbreaks in Canada. Read the letter here.
Holding the government accountable
Stop TB Canada is proud of the progress made on TB elimination thus far and celebrates Canada’s contributions to the fight against this disease. However, we acknowledge that more must be done to achieve our goals. Stop TB Canada will continue to work alongside our partners, political champions, and volunteers to advocate for TB elimination in Canada and abroad. Stop TB Canada holds the Government of Canada accountable to its domestic and international commitments to eliminate TB. We have updated the Canadian TB Tracker to monitor Canada’s progress towards these goals. View the Canadian TB Tracker here.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on our impact this World TB Day, we recognize that our work is far from over. With ongoing advocacy efforts and continued support from our partners, volunteers, and advocates, we remain committed to holding the Canadian government accountable and driving progress towards a TB-free world. #YesWeCanEndTB!