TBbrigden @TBbrigden@qoto.org

Interesting report/survey from
@WHO and @TDRnews
on TB and COVID-19 bidirectional screening. Where there was adequately collected data, the yield of TB testing in people with confirmed or presumed COVID-19 exceeded 0.5% . What is the future of bi-directional screening for TB/C19 as the incidence of C19 falls in many countries? https://bit.ly/3HCWJlh

My favourite time of year... the #BMJ christmas edition! This year the article that resonates is "Global Health Nonsense" Hope I am not offending but it rings true, we need to be careful that we do not use words and jargon that make it harder to understand what it is we are trying to do or focus too much on the new and innovation that the basics are forgotten. As the old adage goes... KISS (Keep it simple stupid!). Good pull out bingo card included!
https://www.bmj.com/content/379/bmj.o2932

So when I started work in TB, the treatment for DRTB was 2years, costed thousands of dollars and less than 50% of people were cured. I was involved in a meeting to dream of future of the treatment for people with DRTB. Now it seems that that dream is coming true. #WHO
guidance on all oral 6 month regimen (https://bit.ly/3W3ilNz) that are cost effective (https://bit.ly/3YG76wn) and are supported by
#GlobalFund
(https://bit.ly/3j7HCaT). What a lovely way to end the year! Let's hope that in 2023, countries start scaling up this regimen that cures more than 85% of people.

This is a great article from #lancetGlobalHealth on images used by Global Health organisations. I was lucky enough to have worked with comms teams who were really strict on what images where used and to maintain dignity and not propagate sterotypes of "poor Africans" and "white saviours". https://bit.ly/3j10uIl

#TB is a complex disease that does not happen in isolation, often with other co-morbidities and can sometimes cause other illnesses. Tune in to the Union Webinar tomorrow on TB and Depression: An Integrated Patient-centred Approach in South Asia. Registration link - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tb-and-depression-an-integrated-patient-centred-approach-in-south-asia-tickets-467634075107

Want to know some of the work that #Globalfund supports for #TB? The latest quarterly update is out and includes updates on case finding activities from Nigeria and Viet Nam. Read to find out more about how Nigeria increased their TB case detection by 50% from 138,591 in 2020 to 207,785 TB cases in 2021 - really impressive work! https://bit.ly/3EzhY5Q

Gender and #TB is a complex issue with different challenges for access and outcomes for men and women. Join the discussion tomorrow with #WHO and #TheUnion to discuss
Multisectoral engagement to improve gender equity in TB and ensure no one is left behind. I will be presenting on the role of #Globalfund on investing in Gender equity for TB. https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2022/11/21/default-calendar/international-men-s-day--2022multisectoral-engagement-to-improve-gender-equity-in-tb-and-ensure-no-one-is-left-behind

A new study published in PLOS Global Public Health shows that a short, all-oral, 6-month treatment regimen for drug-resistant #tuberculosis can save national governments up to US$740 million annually. This regimen will be included in the new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the treatment of DR-TB, a form of the disease which impacts nearly half a million people each year. Find out more about how the cost of implementing this therapy is potentially 40-90% less expensive than current regimens: https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0001287 #EndTB

#TB is a disease of inequity. Speaking tomorrow as part of a workshop on the role of funders can/should play in addressing these inequities. There is still time to register if you would like to find out more about the work in this important area as well as contribute to the discussions about how to address it. "Address to Inequity; challenging the global End TB agenda" https://bit.ly/3GgutWy