The 77th Union World Conference Lung Health, held in Indonesia this month, was a pivotal event for the global lung health community. This year, the USAID ACCELERATE 2 TB Project team, represented by THINK experts, made a significant impact with their participation and presentations.
A Platform for Change
The Union Conference is renowned for bringing together experts and stakeholders to share knowledge, discuss innovations, and collaborate on strategies to combat tuberculosis (TB) and other lung diseases. THINK was honored to contribute to these critical conversations and gain insights from the diverse experiences of attendees.
Key Presentations
Tasha Govender, Chief of Party for the ACCELERATE 2 Project, presented on School-Based Contact Tracing: Addressing TB in a Community. Her presentation highlighted the significance of comprehensive TB contact management and tracing efforts that extend beyond households. She shared a compelling story of a 12-year-old diagnosed and linked to care for Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis during one of the community outreach team’s school testing initiative. Tasha emphasized that early identification and management of individuals exposed to or with confirmed TB are crucial for controlling the spread of the disease.
Masingita Lambane, THINK’s Head of Strategic Partnerships and Community Systems discussed the establishment of the KwaZulu-Natal Province TB Caucus aimed at ensuring a holistic approach to addressing TB challenges and improving TB outcomes. This collaborative endeavor between THINK and the KZN Provincial Council on AIDS marks a significant milestone in advancing the TB Multisectoral Accountability Framework. Masingita’s poster presentation highlighted the launch of the TB Caucus, showcasing the progress made with USAID’s support.
Dr. Prineetha Naidoo from MatCH, THINK’s implementing sub-partner for the USAID ACCELERATE 2 Project, presented on Strategic Foundations and Preliminary Insights: USAID ACCELERATE 2 Project’s Baseline Assessment in South Africa’s TB Landscape. Her insights provided a comprehensive overview of the project’s initial findings and strategic direction.
Voices from the Conference
Masingita Lambane reflected on the experience, saying, “With support from USAID, I had the opportunity to present at the Lung Conference in Bali. This platform allowed us to share our progress and collaborate with global experts, furthering our mission to combat TB.”
Dr. Cassandra Kelly-Cirino, Executive Director of The Union, remarked, “While it’s heartening to see some positive trends in our battle against TB, we must confront a harsh reality: despite our efforts, we are merely treading water, failing to make significant strides toward our goal of ending TB.”
The USAID ACCELERATE 2 TB Project team’s participation at the Union Conference underscores its commitment to global health and the fight against TB. Through generous funding and support, the team was able to share its experiences and learn from others, enriching its efforts to implement effective TB interventions and improve lives.