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Notes 1, 2007 > Director's Letter
TB Notes Newsletter
No. 1, 2007
Dear Colleagues:
As we made the transition into a new year, we said goodbye to several
friends in the Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE), including
Dr. Zach Taylor, chief of the Field Services and Evaluation Branch.
From 1993 through 2006 Zach brought leadership, clear vision, and
dedication to the mission of public health to his work in DTBE,
and he will be missed by his colleagues. We anticipate announcing
his position soon.
The 2006 Program Managers Course was held October 23–27,
2006, at the Sheraton Colony Square Hotel in Atlanta. There were
approximately 45 people in attendance. Owing to the absence of Mr.
Scott McCoy, the course coordinator, the Communications, Education,
and Behavioral Studies Branch (CEBSB) pitched in to finalize arrangements
for the course. As in the past, the faculty did an outstanding job
of developing and presenting their sessions. Thanks to all involved
for your hard work.
From October 31 through November 4, 2006, a small number of DTBE
staff attended the 37th World Conference on Lung Health
in Paris, France,
sponsored by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease
(IUATLD). The theme was “Strengthening Human Resources for
Better Lung Health.” About 2100 persons attended this year’s
conference, representing 125 countries from all over the world. The
Union is already starting preparations for the 38th Conference
on Lung Health, to be held in Cape Town, South
Africa, November 8–12, 2007. The theme
will be “Confronting the Challenges of HIV and MDR in TB Prevention
and Care.”
World TB Day is observed on March 24 each year. The March 24 date
commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced to the
scientific community that he had discovered the cause of tuberculosis,
the TB bacillus. This day is observed not only to note the gains
that have been made, but also to build public awareness that TB
today remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the deaths
of almost 2 million people each year, mostly in developing or resource-poor
countries. The theme for World TB Day 2007, TB Anywhere Is TB
Everywhere, conveys a message of urgency and shared responsibility;
it reminds us that although TB is preventable and curable, it remains
a global emergency. I encourage you to be part of this important
process by planning activities for World TB Day, such as conducting
public events, organizing symposia or lectures, or arranging media
coverage (e.g., press conferences; radio or television spots). DTBE
staff members here in Atlanta are working with the National TB Controllers
Association to plan a “2007 TB Awareness Walk” for World
TB Day. This walk is being held to raise awareness about the continuing
challenge of TB rather than to raise funds, and its organizers are
having t-shirts printed up and inviting distinguished guest speakers
to the event. Please visit the TB
Awareness Walk website for more information. If you will be
observing World TB Day in your area, please send an e-mail to Ms.
Holly Wilson at HWilson@cdc.gov
describing your plans. You can also visit the DTBE
World TB Day webpage for additional information and educational
materials. In this time of reduced resources, it is especially critical
to talk to partners, policymakers, and the general public about
the need to prevent, control, and eventually eliminate this disease.
The following important meetings were recently held or are coming
up this year: the 11th Annual Conference of the North American Region
of the IUATLD, which had the theme “Powering Up Political
Will for TB Control,” was held February 22–24, 2007,
at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel in Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada.
In addition, the National Coalition for the Elimination of TB convened
a Partners Strategy Planning meeting on February 21, and a STOP
TB Canada meeting and TB Nursing Assembly meeting were both held
on February 22, before the opening of the IUATLD meeting. As noted
previously, this year’s National TB Controllers Workshop has
been scheduled for June 11–14, 2007, here in Atlanta. In addition, the dates for the 2007 TB Education and Training
Network Conference have been set for August 7–9, 2007; it
also will be held here in Atlanta.
Please mark your calendars for these events. We will provide updates
as they become available.
Kenneth G. Castro, MD
|
Released October 2008
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination - http://www.cdc.gov/tb
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to: hsttbwebteam@cdc.gov,
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CDC/Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
Communications, Education, and Behavioral Studies Branch
1600 Clifton Rd., NE - Mailstop E-10, Atlanta, GA 30333 |