Gandhinagar Declaration: WHO Aims to End Tuberculosis by 2030 in South-East Asia
The WHO South-East Asia Region has made a firm commitment to intensify efforts in eradicating tuberculosis (TB) by 2030, with member countries adopting the Gandhinagar Declaration. This region carries an unbalanced burden, accounting for nearly half of the global TB cases and deaths.
Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia, emphasized the urgency for action in achieving a TB-free region. TB has caused immense suffering, leading to disease, death, poverty, and despair. The adoption of the Gandhinagar Declaration took place during a ministerial meeting titled ‘Sustain, Accelerate, and Innovate to end TB in the South-East Asia Region,’ as a follow-up to the progress made in ending TB.
The declaration calls for the establishment of a high-level multi-sectoral commission in each country. This commission will report to the highest political level and work towards aligning efforts among different stakeholders. Its primary functions will include monitoring progress in ending TB and other priority diseases, as well as building responsive health systems, advancing universal health coverage, and enhancing health security.
Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, TB infrastructure has played a crucial role in infection diagnosis and containment. The Gandhinagar Declaration underlines the importance of utilizing science and technology in delivering equitable and human rights-based TB services that are accessible to all, irrespective of social, cultural, or demographic barriers. The adoption of an integrated, primary healthcare approach is also emphasized.
Allocating sufficient resources to achieve TB service coverage targets and addressing social determinants for a broader impact on multiple diseases is another key aspect highlighted in the declaration. While the Region’s TB allocations in 2022 reached USD 1.4 billion, with 60% from domestic sources, Dr Poonam stressed the need for an annual budget of at least USD 3 billion. This funding would aid in maintaining essential social protection programs, including nutritional support.
The Gandhinagar Declaration also focuses on empowering and engaging communities affected by TB, highlighting the importance of not just listening to them but truly hearing their voices.
The declaration requests the WHO to maintain TB as a Flagship Priority Programme in the coming years. It further calls upon all partners to enhance their support in order to combat TB and other priority diseases in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals target 3.3.
The commitment shown by WHO South-East Asia to ending TB by 2030 is a significant step forward. Through the implementation of the Gandhinagar Declaration, member countries will have a clear roadmap to follow, enabling them to effectively combat this devastating disease and improve the health and well-being of their populations.
