In 2020, more than 1.5 million people died from Tuberculosis (TB), and years of progress in the fight against TB have been eliminated by COVID-19 disruptions.
TB is preventable and treatable, and the world has set the objective of ending the disease by 2030. TB preventive treatment is one of the best ways to keep individuals and families safe from TB, which in turn helps communities become—and remain—TB free.
In 2018, world leaders committed to a five-year target of providing TB preventive treatment to 30 million people around the world. As of September 2021, 22 million household contacts have yet to be reached with TB prevention.
Until recently, TB preventive treatment regimens were very long, with people required to take a pill daily for 6 to 36 months. These treatments also had numerous side effects. Today, science has progressed, and newer rifapentine-based TB preventive treatment regimens that last no more than three months are available. These regimens are called 3HP and 1HP. Everyone has a right to benefit from this latest scientific knowledge.
Yet, global access to these newer regimens is inadequate. Household contacts of those with TB—including mothers, youth, children, and people living with HIV—remain at high risk of developing TB. In fact, those living with people with TB have a 25 times higher risk of progressing from latent to active TB than the general population. And children up to five years age have the highest risk of progression from infection to TB disease.
Recently, several manufacturers have announced their intention to increase the price of TB preventive treatment, which would make it unaffordable for many. And manufacturers have yet to prioritize the development of child-friendly forms of rifapentine that would make it easier to extend the benefits of 3HP and 1HP to children.
To end TB, we need to urgently scale-up access to shorter rifapentine-based TB preventive treatment regimens such as 3HP and 1HP, in line with the World Health Organization’s Call to Action 2.0.
What is 3HP?
Watch this video to know more and share!
How 3HP transforms lives
In Cambodia, Song Punthea from the Takoe Province talks about her experience of taking the 3HP treatment when family members contracted active TB.
Andrew Geswele from Harare, Zimbabwe is an HIV patient at the Highfield Polyclinic in Harare. He talks about his experience of taking 3HP treatment and its importance in preventing active TB, particularly for people living with HIV.
Patih Natawija from DKI Jakarta Province, Indonesia is a household contact of an active TB patient. He talks about his experience of taking 3HP treatment and its importance in preventing active TB, particularly for people living in the same household as an active TB patient.
Bernard Mugambi's wife contracted active TB. He was advised by the nurses at PCEA Kikuyu Hospital to take TB Preventive Treatment to protect himself from contracting active TB as well. Watch the video to hear his story.
Why do Civil Society voices matter in the fight for TB prevention?
Civil society organizations play multiple roles. They are an important source of information for both citizens and the government. They monitor government policies and actions and hold the government accountable. They engage in advocacy and offer alternative policies for the government, the private sector, and other institutions. They play a pivotal role in the rollout and implementation of better, cheaper short course TB preventive treatments.
Community Engagement Matters - Case Studies
Read more about the positive civil society success stories in high-burden TB countries and the significant role of TB community networks in advocating for TB prevention here
Get involved
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Hashtags: Use the hashtags #RightToPreventTB, #PreventTBToEndTB, and #EndTB when relevant
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SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT
Before, TB preventive treatment lasted up to 3 years & had numerous side effects. Today, new, shorter regimens—3HP and 1HP—make TB prevention much easier and accessible to everyone. Let’s #EndTB. Claim your #RightToPreventTB.
Newer TB preventive treatments such as 1HP and 3HP offer several benefits.
- They are shorter
- Require fewer pills
- Have fewer side effects
- Lead to better completion rates
Find out more here
In 2019, the price of TB preventive treatment decreased by more than 2/3. Manufacturers are now threatening to increase the price of rifapentine, which many cannot afford. We can’t #EndTB without the right drugs at the right price. It’s our #RightToPreventTB https://express.adobe.com/page/pc7PYUNzuztsD/
(Thread 1/2) Everyone has a right to the highest standard of health—that includes fair and affordable TB preventive treatment for those who need it the most, especially young children.
(Thread 2/2) We’re calling on manufacturers to develop child-friendly rifapentine-based TB preventive treatments and to sell them at a price everyone can afford.
Children also have a #RightToPreventTB. Find out more here
ADVOCACY TOOLS & RESOURCES
- An Activist’s Guide to Rifapentine for the Treatment of TB Infection
- How to Protect Ourselves from TB by Global Coalition of TB Activists & WHO
- Template letter on TPT (and other TB interventions) for PEPFAR COP22. Also available in French, Spanish and Portuguese
- Community-led Monitoring for Access to Tuberculosis Screening and Diagnostic Testing
- TB Proof - Community Health Workers TPT pamphlet
- TB Proof - Community educational pamphlet
- Community TPT Treatment Literacy Toolkit by JHWO Zimbabwe
Your voice matters!
Thank you for helping us #PreventTB2EndTB!
#RightToPreventTB