WHO welcomes appointment of UN Envoy on Tuberculosis

The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomes the appointment of the new United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Tuberculosis (TB), Dr Eric P. Goosby, M.D.

Dr Goosby’s extensive and high-level experience in global health and diplomacy give him the perfect background for this critical role.

A statement issued by Ms Hannah Monica Dias, WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Friday noted that despite recent gains, tuberculosis remains a serious public health issue - fueled in part by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with antimicrobial resistance posing an ever-present threat to its control.

It said WHO looks forward to working closely with Dr Goosby in our shared effort to raise the profile of the fight against TB and to attain the ambitious new targets agreed at this year’s World Health Assembly.

It said the “End TB Strategy” aims to end the global epidemic, with targets to reduce TB deaths by 95 per cent and to cut new cases by 90 per cent between 2015 and 2035, and to ensure that no family is burdened with catastrophic expenses due to TB.

The statement said: “The strategy also includes targets that have been proposed for the future 2030 'sustainable development goals' and sets interim milestones for 2020 and 2025.

“WHO will serve as Secretariat providing strategic, logistic and administrative support to Dr Goosby for his tuberculosis-related duties.”