Foreword by the WHO
Director-General

We are at a critical juncture in the fight to end tuberculosis. Decades of progress have been reversed by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by other major challenges, including chronic underfunding of the global tuberculosis (TB) response and insufficient action on the social determinants of TB. Partnerships are critical in revitalizing efforts to end TB by finding, treating and preventing TB, through action within and beyond the health sector.

This guidance recognizes the special synergy of communities and health systems when they work together in the fight against TB. It describes ways for communities and health systems to partner in the fight to end TB through primary health care as the foundation of universal health coverage. While communities have always been a part of TB service delivery, WHO is committed to placing their lived experience at the centre of the TB response and encouraging health systems to systematically listen to and learn from communities in the response to TB and other health challenges. We will be able to accomplish much more and to reach the end TB targets faster by working hand in hand.

The WHO Civil Society Task Force on TB has been instrumental in bringing this document to fruition, and we encourage community partners, ministries of health, their national TB programmes and other relevant sectors to strengthen their relations in order to identify local problems and innovative solutions to reverse recent trends.

We thank all people who are engaged in the fight to end TB. No one stakeholder can do it alone. This guidance offers concrete pathways for moving forward, together.