Invitation to attend activist meeting prior to the launch of the 3rd TB Conference of South Africa

Dear Partner

The Treatment Action Campaign, SECTION27, Oxfam and MSF will be hosting a meeting prior to the launch of the 3rd TB Conference of South Africa. The 3rd TB Conference entitled “Reaching the Targets” will be hosted in Durban from 12 – 15 June (registration for the conference ends 18 May).

The conference will be launched on 12 June at 4:00 pm. Prior to the launch, from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, TAC, SECTION27, Oxfam and MSF will hold a meeting for activists, academics, government, community members and patients.

The aim of the meeting will be to better capacitate delegates to engage with the conference. Additionally, the meeting will set up an activist agenda to be taken forward during and after the conference.

Some of the topics that will be addressed in the meeting include: expanding diagnosis and treatment of TB; the high cost of MDR-TB medicines; the need for compassionate use access to bedaquiline; and, the rollout and high costs of the GeneXpert. This meeting will build on the agenda and activism that developed from the August 2011 activist meeting on TB (see details here).

The meeting will conclude with the drafting of a memorandum to be received during the Conference and released to the media. Please confirm your attendance to the meeting with Lieve Vanleeuw at lieve.vanleeuw@tac.org.za.

Warm regards

Lihle Dlamini
Deputy General Secretary
Treatment Action Campaign