Ukraine has become the first country in the EECA region where the Algorithm for implementing the Multisectoral Accountability Framework to Accelerate Progress to End TB (MAF-TB) has been approved at the national level. This decision was made on March 28, 2024, at a meeting of the Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM/National Council on TB and HIV/AIDS), which functions as the national multisectoral coordination and review mechanism.
The algorithm for implementing the MAF-TB in accordance with the 10 key steps recommended by the World Health Organization was developed in the country under the leadership of the NTP by Yana Terleeva, who presented it to the CCM members. Ms. Terleeva particularly emphasized that the implementation plan of the MAF-TB in Ukraine could be aligned with the 3-year Operational Plans for the two national strategies - on fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis until 2030 and on the development of the tuberculosis healthcare system for the population. It was also suggested to introduce the practice of presentation of reports on the implementation of these plans by relevant bodies and sectors within the framework of CCM meetings. This practice would contribute to strengthening the accountability and drawing the attention of non-profile bodies to TB issues.
The Executive Director of TBEC Yulia Kalancha, being a co-presenter on the MAF-TB implementation in Ukraine, reminded participants that the mechanism is essential for achieving goals and fulfilling commitments taken by the country within the UN Political Declaration on TB. Out of 84 items in the Political Declaration, 7 directly mention the importance of multisectoral approaches to ending TB. The speaker also informed representatives of governmental bodies that civil society and TB-affected communities are ready to provide them with technical support or assistance in seeking additional resources for the implementation of steps within the presented algorithm.
We would like to thank the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, represented by the Deputy Minister-chief sanitary physician of Ukraine, the NTP of Ukraine, and the Secretariat of CCM for their leadership and comprehensive support in implementing the MAF-TB in Ukraine! We are also grateful to the WHO European Region Office, TBpeopleUkraine, the Stop TB Partnership Ukraine, the Alliance for Public Health and other Ukrainian and international partners for the years of efforts towards launching and implementing the MAF-TB in the country!
