WORLD LEADERS PLEDGE BILLIONS TO END TUBERCULOSIS

NEW YORK : At the first ever high level United Nations General Assembly meeting on tuberculosis  held on Wednesday, world leaders pledged -

To increase overall global investments for ending TB at least $13 billion annually by 2022 and seek $2 billion for closing the estimated $1.3 billion annual funding gap in tuberculosis research.

They committed to mobilise ''sufficient and sustainable'' financing from all sources for universal access to quality prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.

They also affirmed their commitment to end global tuberculosis epidemic by 2030.

The meeting attended by 15 heads of state was convened in the backdrop of extremely slow global progress on the fight against TB. 

Declared a health emergency 25 years ago by the WHO, the disease continues to be one of the top one of the top ten causes of death.

Through the declaration titles ''United to End Tuberculosis : An Urgent Global Response to a Global Epidemic,'' 193 member states recognised the enormity of challenge posed by TB and how it disproportionately affects developing regions and countries.

They also acknowledged their failure in addressing the challenge despite making multiple commitments over the years.

They pledged to provide leadership, acknowledging that multi-drug resistant strains can reverse gains made in combating the the disease.

They also committed to promote access to affordable medicines and provide  40 million people access diagnosis and treatment by 2022. 

The World Students Society thanks author Faiza ilyas.