Stop TB Canada Newsletter

June 2024 Newsletter

UN High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance

As we approach the UN High-Level Meeting on AMR in September 2024, Stop TB Canada and our partners across the country are calling on the government to take action to address the intersection between TB and AMR.

Why TB and AMR?

Tuberculosis is the world’s leading infectious killer and a prime example of the intersection between AMR and infectious diseases. TB is preventable and curable, but the emergence of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) has exacerbated the TB crisis since DR-TB is resistant to the most widely used drugs.

The upcoming UN HLM on AMR is a critical opportunity for member states to reaffirm their commitment to combating AMR and to recognize DR-TB as a priority area within this agenda. We can drive meaningful progress by building on the commitments from the UN HLM on TB in September 2023.

Our Ask

We’re calling on Canada to:

Announce new funding to address AMR and DR-TB.
Influence the Political Declaration on AMR.
Support the involvement of affected communities.

Click-to-tweet your support: Not only is TB the world’s leading infectious killer, it causes one third of deaths related to drug resistance. To #EndTB, Canada must ensure TB is on the agenda at the #2024AMRHLM. #YesWeCanEndTB

Let's ensure Canada steps up at the UN HLM on AMR! Learn more.

Closing Soon: Survey on Access to TB Medicines in Canada

Stop TB Canada is conducting a survey to gather information, stories, and experiences of frontline TB care providers and people affected by TB/their families on barriers to access to essential TB medicines in Canada.

This includes delays in accessing rifapentine and components of multidrug-resistant TB regimens that are not Health Canada-approved or marketed in Canada and are only available through temporary access programs, and the lack of access to paediatric TB formulations in Canada. Results of the survey will be used to support Stop TB Canada's advocacy for greater access to essential TB medicines in Canada.

You can access the surveys (in English and French) for both healthcare providers and patients/caregivers below. Please print out the poster with QR code and display in your clinic if you work with people affected by TB.

Healthcare provider survey English and French

Patient / caregiver survey English and French

Call for nominations: Stop TB Partnership’s Community Award 2024

Stop TB Partnership is launching the 2024 Community Award under the theme “Ending TB Stigma Through Art”.

For the first time ever, this year’s award invites nominations from TB communities, civil society, and TB survivor organizations for art pieces—spanning visual, literary, performing, and social media arts—that creatively reflect the message of ending TB stigma.

Submissions must originate from TB high-burden countries and be newly created for this award.

Nominations will be received until October 7, 2024. Learn more.

Publication Spotlight

An Activist’s Guide to Rifapentine – TB Preventive Treatment: 3HP and 1 HP

Rifapentine offers shorter, safer regimens with fewer side effects than standard care. Advocates can find essential guidance in the 2024 update of An Activist’s Guide to Rifapentine TPT that will help scale up access and save lives. Read more.

Better, shorter TB treatments are available. Why aren’t more people receiving them?

Without also increasing access to accurate diagnosis and drug resistance testing, access to the shorter regimens will remain limited. These are just a few of the things that will pave the way for expanding access to innovative new treatments. But attention also must be paid to structural barriers. Read more.

Key Dates

July 19: Canadian Conference on Global Health Abstract Deadline

Follow us at TBPeople Canada!

TBpeople is a global network of people affected by TB on a mission to unite people and defeat TB. Follow along and join us in building this network in Canada:

Are you or have you been affected by TB? Please consider joining TBpeople Canada to connect with others who have been impacted by TB, and share stories, resources and support with your peers. To learn more about this network, visit our website at https://www.stoptbcanada.com/tbpeoplecanada.

Do you work closely with TB clinics and/or those affected by TB? Click to download and print the flyer on our website and share it in your clinic.

Remain connected by joining our directory

Join our directory of TB researchers, practitioners, advocates and survivors based in Canada to connect with colleagues and engage in our advocacy!

Join the directory by completing this short form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdq1aT8U0Lfj66TqvDV_7yP0vC38i3AABfwWBcd8T-9_p5yBA/viewform

Thank you!

This newsletter is supported by resources donated by Results Canada.