보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Tuberculosis experts from all over the world to gather for discussion on national and foreign tuberculosis issues

-       First STOP-TB Partnership East Asia Forum to be held -

The first “STOP-TB Partnership East Asia Forum,” sponsored by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Director Jeon Byungyool), and co-hosted by the STOP-TB Partnership Korea of the Korean National Tuberculosis Association (Chairperson Son Sookmi) and the WHO STOP-TB Partnership (Executive Secretary Lucica Ditiu), will be held from November 22^nd (Thu.) to 23^rd (Fri.) at Seoul Kyoyuk Munhwa Hockwan located in Yangjae-dong.

Korea, despite its high economic status, ranks the lowest among OECD member states in terms of tuberculosis and related death rates, negatively affecting its national image.

Under these circumstances, this forum of tuberculosis experts, such as senior officials of the WHO STOP-TB Partnership and its secretariat in the East Asia region attending, will be particularly meaningful.

Jorge Sampaio, the UN Special Envoy to Stop TB and former President of Portugal, will participate in the forum, and notable figures including Executive Secretary Lucica Ditiu of the WHO STOP-TB Partnership and Blessina Kumar, Vice-Chair of the STOP-TB Partnership Coordinating Board, will be joining in as well.

In addition, experts on tuberculosis from around the world including experts from the STOP-TB Partnership and the WHO, representatives from member states, and officials from high-risk countries regarding tuberculosis will also attend the meeting.

Notable figures from Korea include Rep. Kim Myeongyon of the National Assembly’s committee on health and welfare, Chairperson Son Sookmi of the STOP-TB Partnership Korea under the Korean National Tuberculosis Association, Director Jeon Byungyool of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chairman Moon Yeongmok of the Korean National Tuberculosis Association, and President Lee Sooku of the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare.

This international forum beginning on November 22^nd will be the first of its kind to be held in the East Asia region, will discuss the role of the STOP-TB Partnership to fight against the disease and ways to build close cooperation among member states.

During the forum, a special lecture on tuberculosis will be given by a WHO regional advisor, and tuberculosis control cases will be presented by a representative from each participating country.

Director Jeon Byungyool of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, “the forum is expected to help set up Korea as a central cooperative body regarding tuberculosis in the East Asia region, and generate productive solutions on tuberculosis-related issues for Korea and its neighbors."

He added that “Korea still has more than 35,000 tuberculosis patients every year, with more than 2,300 deaths due to the disease, so public attention (to tuberculosis) is imperative.”