World TB Day - 24 March 2003

Events Worldwide

Please visit this page to find out what other countries are planning for this year's World TB Day celebrations:

* The special World TB Day website, dedicated to those who have had TB, have been cured with DOTS and are willing to share their experience with others.

WHO Regional Offices: AFRO - AMRO - EMRO - EURO - SEARO - WPRO

• Afghanistan
  - Stamps produced by WHO Afghanistan, which will be used by the Afghan Post Offices to commorate World TB Day (being finalized). (contact: MezzabottaG@afg.emro.who.int).

• Argentina
  - World TB Day celebrations in Buenos Aires
  A Scientific Meeting "DOTS in Tuberculosis" will take place on 24 March. This will be held together with local WHO/PAHO, Institute and Tuberculosis Net from the City of Buenos Aires Government at the Asociación Médica Argentina (Argentine Medical Association). (contact: lalat@netizen.com.ar).

• Bangladesh
  World TB Day 2003 celebrations all over Bangladesh with lots of patients' forums, etc.

• Cambodia
  In Phnom Penh, the World TB Day Celebrations were organised by the National Centre for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control, in association with the Health Department of the Phnom Penh Municipality, officials from MoH, WHO, UNICEF, WFP, UNAIDS, JICA, USAID, NHCADS, MEDICAM, Military Hospital, among others.

• Canada
  - "Reducing the global impact of TB: Canada's fair share" - StopTB Canada, March 23-24 (Invitation), (contact: Melissa_Phypers@hc-sc.gc.ca).
  
  - World TB day celebrations in Canada
  There were several events recognizing World TB day held across Canada on March 24, with the main event being held in Ottawa, the nation's capital, and attended by 50 health professionals, NGO representatives, international aid and development people and government representatives.  Speakers and workshops addressed many TB-related issues and experiences, particularly in high-burden countries. Canada's Minister for International Development, the Honourable Susan Whelan, spoke at the conference and announced new funding of $2million(CDN) to provide technical assistance to countries with a high or intermediate burden of TB to assist with the preparation of proposals to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. (contact:mcdonald@bc.lung.ca)
  
• China
  In the celebrations of the World TB Day in China, a famous actor was invited to do a series of public interest advertisements on China Central TV. A counselling team was also sent to one of the suburbs in Beijing for diagnosis and treatment. This activity was planned with a huge opening ceremony attended by government officers. In order to increase public awareness about TB, an advocacy leaflet was also produced.

• Colombia
  - El Grupo de Estudio de Tuberculosis del Cauca desarrollará la VI Jornada de Actualización y Participación Comunitaria en Tuberculosis el viernes 21 de marzo de 2003 en la Ciudad de Popayán, al sur de Colombia. Las actividades serán presididas por el Señor Alcalde de la Ciudad y el Gobernador del Cauca. Participarán las directivas de la Universidad del Cauca, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, la Liga Antituberculosa Colombiana, el Club Rotaract-Rotario y los representantes de la Unión Internacional contra la Tuberculosis y Enfermedades Respiratorias (UICTER/IUATLD) y de la Ayuda Alemana para pacientes con Tuberculosis (DAHWAYU).

  La Comunidad participará con un Concurso Infantil de Afiches sobre el Lema de la Tuberculosis: "DOTS me curó a mi, también te curará a ti" y un acto cultural de los Adultos Mayores: "Por la Vida sin Tuberculosis". (contact: atenorio@iname.com)

• Croatia
  The World TB Day Celebrations was held in Zagreb the Symposium for Chest Physicians - under University Hospital "Jordanovac", Croatian Ministry of Health and Open Society Institute patronage.
  The Symposium was organised by Project "DOTS implementation and improvement of TB control in Croatia – education programme for chest physicians, general practitioners and community service providers". 90 chest physicians from all over the country came to participate in the work of the Symposium. There were 16 lectures – covering different topics from TB Control.
  For the first time was included a topic called: "Creativity and TB". (contact: lucica2000@yahoo.com)

• Czech Republic
  - As part of the World TB Day celebrations in the Czech Republic a press conference joined with a demonstration of case-finding of homeless people collected by a bus, their examination and monitoring is being organized by the National Tuberculosis Surveillance Unit, Department of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery in the Czech Republic, Prague, March 13 (contact: ludek.trnka@fnb.cz).

• Ethiopia
  - World TB Day celebrations in Ethiopia
  * Friday evening 21st, WTB Day had major TV coverage in 3 National ETV News Bulletins.
  * Saturday 23^rd,  a special ETV programme of 20 minutes on DOTS in practice in Addis Ababa will be broadcasted at 9.30 pm
     WTB Theme Caps in Amharic language and TB information leaflets [Flyer I (pdf 47kb) and Flyer II (pdf 74kb)] for the general public have already been distributed to the regions
  * Monday the 24^th, a core meeting will be held for all newspaper, TV and Radio media, at the Ministry of Health. The manifestation includes presentations of senior officials of the Ministry and two presentations of TB patients under treatment, followed by a circus show linked to WTB Day theme
  (contact: whotbl@telecom.net.et).

• Gambia
  World TB Day celebrations in Gambia include: radio show, panel discussions and film shows. (contact: abdoulayecham@hotmail.com)

• India
  - A round up of all the World TB Day celebrations that took place in India.
  
  - World TB Day celebrations in West Bengal, India
  On 24th March 2003, we are going to organise a big rally with the collaboration of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and some other willing NGOs. We have already developed some stickers, baneers and some posters on this issue.We are expecting about 1000 people along with some TB patients those who are getting treatment or  already cured will join with us. One mass rally has been organized which will start at about 9.30 am from Kolkata which we inform you to our last mail and a Work Shop on "CBDOTS in Rural Areas" will be held at Amtola TU, Amtola Junction ,24 Parganas(s) WB. District TB Officer and other Gov. personnel will attend the said programme. We have developed sticker, hoarding,  Caps with the messages Dots Cured me, It will cure you too",posters and banners. On this occasion we are going the publish one books written in Bengali namely "JIBAN RASHMI". This books is ideal for the health workers. Besides this so many leaf lets are also going to be published, one of them written in English Form " Tuberculosis and Women". (contact: santitb@vsnl.in).
  
  - World TB Day activities organized by the JJ Crescent Lions Club, India
  24th March 2003, 9 am to 1.30 pm - DOTS Center -Shed Dharavi Slums, Dharavi, Mumbai 400016: D OTS Cured Me - It Will Cure Others
  29th March 2003, 1.30 pm to 4 pm - Lions TB Cure Center , Nagpada, Mumbai 400008: TB Detection Camp, Screening of the Suspected Cases
  30th March 2003 9am to 1.30 pm - TB Detection Camp, Jasmine Mills Lane, Mumbai 400016
  (contact: lionsatish@hotmail.com).
  
  - World TB Day Organised at Erode District, Tamilnadu.Cured TB Patients Talk about their experiences, a handbooks, greeting cards, etc., released. (contact: dotsraja@eth.net)
  
  - World TB Day celebrated in Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad District of Kerala State, India. A seminar with 70 participants, Most of the particpants are taking medicine and a club was formed in the name of MUKTHI-means getting rid of the disease. Doctors, Social workers, paramedical staff participated. The programme was organised jointly by Government TB control unit, NGOs and public.Took pledge to work hard for the eradication of TB. (contact:hildasby@eth.net)
  
  - Santi TB Control Society participated in a rally organized jointly by CARE West Bengal and Kolkata Municipal Corporation on 24^th March 2003. Six NGOs Santi TB Control Society, BAM India, GRECALTIS, Cathedral Relief Services, SHIS and Durbar Mahila Samity participated in the rally. About 2500 health workers from the above institutions, community members and school students participated. The rally started from Moulali Ramlila ground and terminated at Park Circus maiden a distance of about 3 Km. The rallyists were addressed by the Officer on Special Duty Dr. A Mukherjee in charge of all health programes in the Kolkata Municipal area, the District TB Officer Dr. LN Saha,and  Sri Tushar Bhattacharya Director CARE. The above persons emphasized the need for early diagnosis and treatment. They also appreciated the efforts of NGOs in creating awareness among the general population and hoped that in the near future the disease could be brought under control. (contact: santitb@vsnl.in)
  
  - World TB Day celebrated in Calcutta, India, by Calcutta Rescue group. Comprised of an interesting play, and other awareness programmes. (contact:calres@cal.vsnl.net.in)
  
  - World TB Day celebrated - Events and activities in Trivandrum, Kerala, organised by the Kerala State TB Cell. (contact: kstcs@sancharnet.in)
  
  - World TB day Celebration organised in India by massiveeffort.org in collaboration with a coalition of NGOs. A TB Control Report Card released,  20,000 cards mailed to top state and national politicians and decision makers, Video footage of TB in India disseminated to all state and national television stations.
  View Cover of the Report Card (39 KB)
  View Report Card (124 KB)
  

• Indonesia
  - World TB Day celebrations in Indonesia
  1. Indonesian Pulmonologist Association ("PDPI) will hold several TB scientific seminars in several big cities, i.e., Bandung, Jakarta, Solo, Surabaya and Medan
  2. Indonesian Anti TB Association ("PPTI") will hold funding activities as well as the opening of TB data center in Indonesia.
  3. Mycobacterial Hospital Persahabatan Hospital will publish a book about sensitivity pattern of TB Bacilli from several years back
  4. TB Task Force Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia will published a book entitled "TB Masalah Kita"
  5. Expert Committee Indonesian Movement on TB will hold a National seminar, which will be officially opened by the Minister of Health. They will also published a book about TB problems in Indonesia.
     Other activities will son be prepared by other agencies here in Indonesia. (contact: doctjand@indosat.net.id).
     For more information click HERE.
     

• Japan
  - Japan Anti-TB Association (JATA) held the 54^th National Tuberculosis Convention in Miyagi Prefecture on March 25^th and 26^th with the presence of Her Imperial Highness Princess Akishino, Patroness of JATA. The speakers emphasized importance of strengthening and expanding DOTS in Japan with regional characteristics to be taken into consideration, and importance of international cooperation and so on. News release was produced and posters of WTBD and cured patients’ stories were exhibited. Furthermore, the Research Institute of Tuberculosis held the 8^th International Tuberculosis Seminar on February 25^th. Moreover, JATA is organizing the Fukujyuji Seal (Double-Barred Cross Seal) exhibition to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of publishing the seal at the museum in Mejiro, Tokyo from March 21^st to March 30^th. (contact: international@jatahq.org)
  
• Morocco
  - L’association SOS tuberculose organise des journées (du 24 au 28 mars 2003) de sensibilisation et d’information pour la célébration de la journée mondiale contre la tuberculose 2003 a Casablanca, Maroc. (contact: sostbbouayad@menara.ma).

• Mozambique
  -The WHO in Mozambique released manuals in Portugese, on the treatment and cure of TB using DOTS. (contact: omsdoc@oms-mz.org)

• Namibia
  - World TB Day celebrations organized by WHO Namibia
  We have started organising activities to celebrate World TB Day since last month. A National Committee in consultation with the Regional Health structures have decided that the WTBD be held in Swakopmund where the instances of TB is very high compared to other parts of the country. (contact: francis@un.na).
  
  
• Nepal
  World TB day celebrated in Nepal. The Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Lokendra Bahadur Chand, officially inaugurated the event.
  
  
• Niger
  The WHO Niger organised the World TB Day celebrations. On the 23rd March, the Minister of Health made a speech that was broadcast over radio and television. An open day was held at the National Anti-Tuberculosis Center. The ceremony was led by the Minister for Health, and the WHO Representative to Niger. Patients, their parents, friends and relatives also participated. (contact: omsdoc@intnet.ne)

• Nigeria
  - World TB Day celebrations organized by TB-WATCH Nigeria
  We plan to celebrate the World TB Day 2003 by writing a play that will be broadcast on National Radio in Nigeria. We may take a TV/radio phone in programme. We may have a Stop TB calendar 2003, as well as award presentations to award TB ambassadors and TB Advocates. We will print TB pamphlets on WTBD2003 theme and distribute them to 188 priests, 48 bishops, 250 schools, 200 small and medium enterprises, 100 corporations, 50 organizations, 50 media houses and 50 TB centers. (contact: francisookoye@yahoo.com).
  
  - 10 days' World TB Day Celebrations organized by The National TB and Leprosy Programme, Nigeria from the 21st to the 31st of March. Highlights of the events are a television talk show, "300-Man-Mass Rally Campaign", where the Honorable Minister for Health will also be in attendance.You can access a complete list of activities. (contact: omoniyifadare@yahoo.com).

  - World TB Day Celebrations organized by The National Tuberculosis Research and Action Group (NATRAG), Nigeria, in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research. The celebrations are going to take place at the Main Auditorium, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, 6, Edmond Crescent, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria, beginning at 9.30, in the morning. For more information, you can visit the following page. (Contact: natragtb@yahoo.co.uk)

  - In a unique celebration in the Nigerian Federal Capital of Abuja, World TB Day was combined with World Leperosy Day. A 5 kilometre walk that ended in a rally, was addressed by a number of Stop TB Partners. Members of the Planning Committee also participated in television discussion programmes.

• Norway
  - The LHL in Norway has produced an exhibition called From Shame to Hope. The exhibition is officially opened by the Norwegian minister of Health, Mr. Dagfinn Høybråthen, today, March 24th, in a public library in Oslo, the capital of Norway. Afterwards, the exhibition will tour the country.

  The exhibition consists of a set of roll-up posters, and "installations" showing the history of TB-treatment in Norway, from the beds used by patients to "air the bacilli out", via the surgical instruments and the first PAS-pills, to today´s medicines. The exhibition also shows the amount of medicines required to fullfill a DOT-treatment. The main message is the title of the exhibition, From shame to hope - namely the problem of stigma connected to the TB-disease. LHL is deeply concerned with the international situation, and want the Norwegian people to see the close links between our own history as one of the hardest hit countries in the world in the 1890-1920s, and the current situation in other countries today. Therefore, the exhibition also focuses on the international situation, and our responsibility to help other countries, using our own experience.

  The LHL has also produced a brochure outlining their activities in their fight against TB. (contact: oa@lhl.no)

• Pakistan
  - World TB Day celebrations organized in Pakistan
  With reference to the World TB day 2003, arrangements have been made to have an open discussion forum on Tuberculosis on the Internet. Click HERE for more details. (contact: nadeem3hassan@yahoo.com).
  
  - The Identity, Merge and Action Aim (AIM) celebrated world TB day 2003 with the patients and with its field staff to give public awareness as to why this day is celebrated, what is TB and how it expands. The AIM team tried to explain with the help of role play, questions/answers and papers.
  (contact: aimngo@brain.net.pk).
  
  - A symposium was held at the Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences Jamshoro, and a walk was organised in city of Hyderabad on the occasion of World TB Day. (contact: drajp25@hotmail.com)
  
  - World TB Day celebrations organised by the Tamir Cheshire Community Programme in collaboration with the TB Hospital, Faisalabad, included a seminar and a hugely successful rally. (contact: tamir@fsd.paknet.com.pk)
  
  - World TB Celebrations were also organised by the National TB Control Programme. The Minister for Heath, the Director General health, Girl Guides, and others participated in a walk later on a seminar was organised, which was addresses by the Minister for Health.

• Papua New Guinea
  In Papua New Guinea, a function at a local urban clinic with an open-door demonstration of microscopy, which was recorded by local radio and television.

• Peru
  - The Ministry of Health in Peru is organising World TB Day Celebrations from the 14th to the 26th of March. Actividades Por El 24 De Marzo - Dia Mundial De La Tuberculosis. (contact: celiacabello@hotmail.com)

• Philippines
  - World TB Day celebrations organised by PhilCAT in the Philippines. For more information, pictures, etc., in pdf form, you can visit the following page. (cyu@philtips.com).
  
• Poland
  - World TB Day celebrations organized in Poland
  We are planning on World TB Day (from 21-24 March) free diagnostic check-up for people from high-risk TB groups in our region, as well as meetings with local authorities and politicians, conferences and workshops for doctors, and educational campaign in local media. During those dates we will also be opening a new TB Ward in our Hospital which will make it possible to treat patients in a better surroundings. (contact: m.cz.malinowska@interia.pl).

• Romania
  - World TB Day Celebrations are being organised in Romania by the National TB Control Program and the Office for TB Control in the Balkans - World Health Organization. (contact: lucica2000@yahoo.com)

• Russia
  World TB Day celebrations in Russia, organised by the Russian Red Cross
  
  
• South Africa
  - Stop TB in 2003 World Cup Cricket: "Hit TB for a 6!" - The Stop TB Partnership is set to launch a Stop TB message campaign aimed at audiences of the 2003 World Cup Cricket, which will be hosted by South Africa and held from February 8 - March 23. Kenya and Zimbabwe will also serve as venues for first-round matches. The campaign is being organized by the Stop TB Partnership Secretariat and Meropa Communications, a South African PR firm, with support from the National TB Programmes of India and South Africa. (contact: junaids@meropa.co.za).
  
  - The National TB Control Programme launched the first National TB Advocacy and Social Mobilisation campaign 2003-2005 with the theme 'Stop TB because YOU can'. The Acrtivities started on the 17th of March, with the TV documentary, " Precious breaths, South Africa's needless deaths".
  On World TB day, the official launch took place in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. The Minister of Health, the Premier of Eastern Cape, the MEC of Health from Eastern Cape and the Mayor of the Metropole (Port Elizabeth)l:
  - visited TB clinics and administered TB treatment;
  - signed the "South Africa's united pledge to Stop TB because I can" in the Centenary City Hall.(contact: XimiyaP@health.gov.za)
  A Newsletter called 'Indaba' was also launched.

• Spain
  - World TB Day celebrations in Barcelona
  Fórum científico: Unidad de Investigación en Tuberculosis de Barcelona (UITB), Sesión especial del Día Mundial de la Tuberculosis, 13 de marzo. (contact: cserrano@imsb.bcn.es).

• Uganda
  - World TB Day celebrations organized by Reach Out, M'buya Parish, HIV/AIDS Initiative
  The name of our program is Reach Out, M'buya Parish, HIV/AIDS Initiative. We will be celebrating World TB Day by inviting all our TB clients, their supporters and others for a special event to which we hope to have good press coverage. Our program in Kampala, Uganda has been involving former TB clients who are cured or active clients who are doing well on treatment since the month of November 2002. We have trained 14 of these clients to be Treatment Supporters and each one has 4-5 clients whom they support on a weekly basis. These supporters report to the Health professional and TB Coordinator within our program once a week where problems are identified etc.(contact: lalonde@one2netmail.co.ug).

• UK
  - World TB Day Conference co-organized by the London Borough of Newham, Newham Primary Care Trust, North East London TB Network and TB Alert, UK, London, March 24-25 (contact: Paul.Mayho@newham.gov.uk).
  
  - World TB Day Celebrations organised by Ealing Primary Care Trust, Middlesex, includes video show in 5 languages and opportunity to meet and discuss issues with TB professional staff. (contact: Leonora.Hyde@ealingpct.nhs.uk)

• USA
  - "When TB & HIV Collide: Texas & Beyond" - A Local-Global Health Forum supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation, USA, Texas, March 18 (contact: JWIGGINS@globalhealth.org).
  
  - A Bilingual-Binational Event Featuring the U.S.-Mexico Binational TB Referral and Case Management Project, organized by CDC:
  The U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission will convene a binational and bilingual event in observance of World TB Day on March 27, from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm, with a program featuring the U.S.-Mexico Binational TB Referral and Case Management Pilot Project. The event will be co-hosted by the sister cities of El Paso, Texas; Las Cruces, New Mexico; and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. The event is designed to educate key audiences about the continuity of care and expected treatment outcome improvements for TB patients crossing the U.S.-Mexico border who participate in the U.S.-Mexico TB Referral and Case Management Project. (contact: SmcCoy1@cdc.gov).
  
  - World  TB Day Celebrated Palm Beach County Health Department
  This year we are celebrating the World TB Day by organizing a Health Fair at the Haitian Center for Family Services in West Palm Beach. This health fair will take place on Saturday March 22 between 10 am to 2 pm.  During this event, we will provide information about TB, HIV/AIDS, STD, etc. to the Haitian Community living in Palm Beach. Screening will be offered for free, such as blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. We have also invited a TB patient who finished his treatment through DOT and who will talk about his experience. Media will be invited to cover this event. (contact:Boubker_Naouri@doh.state.fl.us).
  
  - While the World TB Day is March 24, 2002, New York City (NYC) Department of Health’s TB Bureau (including its 4 field offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx/Staten Island) will be participating in various activities from March 22 to March 30 to raise people’s awareness about TB and what to do about it. (contact: rgudur@health.nyc.gov)
  
  - To mark the World TB Day, the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development produced an online movie piece to reinforce the call for stopping TB. The movie can be viewed at their website at www.tballiance.org. For viewing this movie, you'll need a Flash Player that can be downloaded for free from the net. (contact: gwynne.oosterbaan@tballiance.org)
  
  - World TB Day celebrations across Florida as  reported by The Florida Department of Health. (contact: Suzy_Peters@doh.state.fl.us)
  
  - World TB Day celebrations in California, as reported by the California Tuberculosis Controllers' Association.

• Uzbekistan
  World TB Day Celebrations were coordinated by the WHO Office in the country. Research was taken up on the Koran, in order to point out references of the importance of health care, etc. Special Friday Prayers were organised to highlight the importance of TB getting cured. (contact: arn@who.ccc.uz)

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