What is Gandhinagar Declaration?

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About Gandhinagar Declaration

It was adopted at the end of the two-day meeting held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, to follow up on the progress made to end tuberculosis (TB) by the countries of the WHO South-East Asia Region.
The Declaration calls for establishing high-level multisectoral commission reporting to the highest political level in each country for synergy of efforts among various stakeholders and to monitor progress towards ending TB and other priority diseases.
These high-level multisectoral commission on TB could also help build responsive health systems and advance universal health coverage and health security.
The declaration calls for ensuring appropriate adoption and use of science and technology for equitable and human rights-based TB services that are accessible to all, irrespective of any social, cultural, or demographic divide, through an integrated, primary health care approach.
It emphasises on the allocation of necessary resources to meet TB service coverage targets and address social determinants to have a multi-disease impact.
The declaration calls on WHO to maintain TB as a Flagship Priority Programme over the coming years and provide leadership and technical support to countries for sustained and accelerated approaches supported by research and innovation.
It calls upon all partners to enhance their support to end TB and priority diseases in the Region as per the UN Sustainable Development Goals target 3.3 – End the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases.

Q1) What is tuberculosis (TB)?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, spine, and kidneys. TB is a major global health concern and remains one of the top infectious killers worldwide.

Source: WHO South-East Asia Region commits to further enhance efforts to end TB, adopt Gandhinagar Declaration