2024 World Tuberculosis Day Campaign Successfully Held in Beijing

March 24, 2024, is the 29th World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. On the preceding day, a significant promotional event for this occasion was successfully hosted at the People's Daily Health App Studio. The event was organized under the guidance of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration (NDCPA), led by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and the Chinese Health Education Center, with additional support from the Chinese Anti-tuberculosis Association and the Chinese Association of STD and AlDS Prevention and Control.

 

This year's campaign, themed "Together, We Can End TB," attracted participation from over 100 individuals including leaders and representatives from provincial and municipal TB prevention and control institutions across China, as well as experts, scholars, and volunteers. The event was attended by influential organizations such as the NDCPA, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, the China CDC, the Chinese Health Education Center, the Chinese Anti-Tuberculosis Association, the Chinese Association for STD and AIDS Prevention and Control, the Chinese Foundation for Prevention of STD and AIDS, Beijing Chest Hospital of Capital Medical University, the Eighth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, WHO Representative Office in China, the All-China Women's Federation and Chinese Society of Education, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s office in China. The event was chaired by Liu Jing, National Ambassador for TB Prevention and Control Advocacy.

In her speech, Lu Jiang, Deputy Director of NDCPA and Secretary of the Party Committee at China CDC, expressed her gratitude to TB prevention workers and volunteers nationwide for their diligent efforts in advancing the national TB control initiatives. She noted that under the firm leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the State Council, various levels of government have successfully established a robust mechanism for comprehensive disease prevention and control. This mechanism is characterized by leadership driven by both the party and government, inter-departmental collaboration, societal mobilization, and public engagement. These concerted efforts have led to substantial improvements in TB prevention and control, effectively safeguarding public health, conserving significant social resources, and supporting the healthy development of the economy and society. Lu Jiang emphasized that TB remains a global challenge requiring unified, persistent efforts. She urged a continued focus on the “Healthy China” strategic objectives, advocating for ongoing coordination, innovation, strategic optimization, and quality enhancement to elevate TB control efforts to new heights. Such advancements are crucial in eradicating the health threats posed by TB and in making significant contributions to the development of public health and the formation of a global health community.

Wu Jing, Deputy Director of the Chinese Health Education Center, reflected on the recent collaborative efforts across multiple departments to advance TB control and prevention. He highlighted the center's ongoing commitment to closely collaborate with the China CDC and other relevant institutions. Wu Jing committed to further deepening and enhancing the quality of public TB education and social advocacy, aiming to foster a proactive, healthy, and cooperative advocacy atmosphere across all sectors of society.

 

 

Organized by the Chinese Anti-Tuberculosis Association, the national "Most Beautiful Anti-Tuberculosis Person" campaign is dedicated to fostering a spirit of perseverance and setting exemplary standards, thereby motivating TB prevention workers throughout the nation to adhere to their original aspirations and advance in their efforts. This year, the fourth iteration of this campaign recognized 75 individuals and teams as "National Most Beautiful Anti-Tuberculosis Person (Teams)." At the event, certificates were awarded to some of these distinguished representatives.

 

  

Since the inauguration of the "Million Volunteer Initiative for Enhancing TB Knowledge Dissemination" in 2023, an increasing number of volunteer teams and individuals have joined the public service ranks, engaging in various forms of volunteer activities across the country. After a comprehensive nomination and selection process, five institutions were honored as "Outstanding Institutions in the Million Volunteer Initiative for Enhancing TB Knowledge Dissemination," fifteen individuals were named "Volunteer Advocates for TB Prevention and Control Knowledge Dissemination," and eighty-five teams were recognized as "Volunteer Teams for TB Prevention and Control Knowledge Dissemination." Certificates were presented to these representatives during the event.

 

Additionally, the event featured two micro-forums, where leaders from TB prevention institutions in ten regions, including Zhejiang, Hubei, Shaanxi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and so on, enthusiastically shared and exchanged their experiences. Discussions focused on enhancing inter-departmental coordination, fostering proactive detection, advancing precise control measures, improving care, and strengthening social mobilization. These exchanges provided valuable insights, helping to refine strategic focuses and effectively boost TB prevention and control efforts across the various regions.

 

University student volunteers from Beijing and Zhejiang, along with a TB prevention worker from Guangdong, shared their engaging stories and experiences in volunteer work. Their stories conveyed both the inspiring vibrancy of youth and the warmth of local commitment, illustrating how the spirit of volunteerism is passed on through active participation. This collective effort, a convergence of countless small lights, comes together under the common goal of fighting TB..

 

 

In an effort to promote professionalism and standardization in volunteer activities, under the guidance of the NDCPA, the Chinese Health Education Center teamed up with China CDC, the Ministry of Civil Affairs Information Center, the Chinese Anti-Tuberculosis Association, and the Chinese Association of STD and AlDS Prevention and Control to create the "Million Volunteer Guidebook for Tuberculosis Prevention and Control in China." The guidebook was officially launched at the event, where copies were also gifted to the volunteer representatives. This comprehensive manual outlines the scope of work in various volunteer service areas, features case studies, and offers a rich repository of practical resources, making it an essential tool for managing and guiding volunteer activities.

 

Representatives from the Shandong Provincial Public Health Clinical Center, the Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Tianjin Tuberculosis Control Center delighted attendees with meticulously prepared performances. Concurrently, a documentary highlighting the achievements of China's TB prevention and control efforts was showcased at the event.

 

The 2024 World Tuberculosis Day campaign concluded successfully, advancing the high-quality development of national efforts to control and prevent TB. In this ongoing journey, we remain committed to collaborating with an increasing array of departments and social forces. Together, we continue our relentless pursuit of the goal to end TB as soon as possible.