Press Conference by World Health Organization to Introduce New

Goodwill Ambassador for ‘Stop TB Partnership’

 

The world’s failure to control and eradicate tuberculosis -- a disease that has been around for more than 4,000 years -- was a human disgrace, Marcos Espinal, Executive Secretary of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “Stop TB Partnership”, said at Headquarters today.

At a press conference to introduce pop star Craig David as the WHO’s newest Goodwill Ambassador, Dr. Espinal said those who thought tuberculosis was a disease of the past were wrong, because it was a huge pandemic that killed some 1.8 million people around the world annually.  Some 9 million new cases were diagnosed every year, and more importantly, some 2 billion people –- a third of the world’s population -- were infected with TB-causing bacteria.  The press conference coincided with the observance of World TB Day, held on 24 March each year to acknowledge the burden of tuberculosis around the world, and to celebrate the accomplishments of people fighting the disease.

Dr. Espinal described the English pop star as a multiplatinum laureate who had achieved success in several countries and was lending his voice to help people affected by tuberculosis.  The Stop TB Partnership was a global social movement, which aimed to control and eventually eliminate TB while contributing to attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, he said.  “So, to help us to take the message that TB is the responsibility of all the people of the world, not only Governments, but civil society, the private sector, students, people affected by the disease, Craig David has decided to give his image, his time and his voice to advocate and raise awareness that we can conquer this disease if we all have the will,” he said, explaining that TB was a curable disease for which treatment was available.

The existence of tuberculosis was a reflection of “our own failure to control a disease that has been on earth with us for 4,000 years”, having been proven to exist even in Egyptian mummies, he said.  It was an airborne disease from which nobody was exempt, and everyone was at risk.  “You all know that TB is not going to be controlled or eliminated if we all don’t do this together,” he said.  That was why that Craig David was joining forces with the Stop TB Partnership, but more importantly, his aim was to help those affected by the human and social tragedy in many countries, and give them hope, Dr. Espinal said, stressing that TB was not only a medical problem.  “It is a development issue, it’s an economic problem, it’s a human rights situation,” he added.

Mr. David said he had decided to accept the appointment as Goodwill Ambassador so that he could have the possibility of saving lives through his singing, and was moved to be involved in something where one could “see the light at the end of the tunnel”.

He said there had been a lot of interest in HIV/AID because many different musicians had reached millions of people and made them aware of the deadliness and importance of the pandemic.  To know that 1.8 million people were dying from tuberculosis every year had touched him deeply, especially being 28 years old and close friends with retired football star Luis Figo, who had made him aware of tuberculosis.

It was very easy to sit back and watch what was going on around the world and not necessarily do anything about it, he said, adding that anyone could donate money.  However, being in a position actually to make a difference had prompted him to travel to South Africa -- the world’s third biggest TB-afflicted country -- where he had met researchers who had explained the research process and their efforts to shorten the period of time between diagnosis of tuberculosis and treatment.

Asked about his future plans in explaining the dangers of the disease, the singer said it was important to visit countries affected by tuberculosis.  At the same time, being in New York, and talking about TB in London, had made him aware that the disease was “on our own door step as well as being a million miles away from home”, and that it was a global problem.

In response to a question about the possibility of putting out a song or album dedicated to fighting tuberculosis, he said that, while such undertakings had been done in the past, including recently with the earthquake in Haiti, he would rather go out and speak to people directly.

Asked which countries had high rates of tuberculosis, Dr. Espinal said 22 countries generated 80 per cent of the 9 million new cases estimated to have occurred last year, including Nigeria, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, China, Brazil, Russian Federation, Philippines, Cambodia and Viet Nam.

“I might not have covered the 22, but this is in terms of TB, but there are two regions that are special, because Africa is enduring a huge problem associated with TB/HIV,” he said.  “The TB and HIV epidemics are what I call married without divorce in Africa, because they are running in parallel.  There are countries with huge burdens of both diseases together.  Even 50 per cent of the general population are infected with both, and it is a huge problem on the African continent.”

He went on to say that Eastern Europe and Central Asia were witnessing large epidemics of multi-drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis which did not respond to routine treatment.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record