KARACHI: A high-level meeting of the Stop TB Partnership Pakistan was held at the Bridge Consultants Foundation in Karachi.
The session brought together key stakeholders to address the implications of the complete termination of USAID funding and the suspension of partial support from the Global Fund for tuberculosis-related activities in Pakistan.
Participants voiced serious concerns about the widening funding gap and its potential impact on TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services nationwide.
The meeting served as a platform to assess the emerging challenges and devise strategic responses to safeguard the national TB program.
Dr. Syed Sharaf Ali Shah, Executive Director of the Bridge Consultants Foundation, emphasized that both federal and provincial governments appear unaware of the urgency and gravity of the crisis resulting from the withdrawal of donor support.
“The responsibility for TB control, diagnosis, and treatment rests with the government,” he said.
“Donor support is not permanent — whether it ends today or tomorrow, the government must be ready to take full ownership of the national TB response.”
Also addressing the gathering, Dr. Syed Karam Ali Shah, Senior Advisor of the Stop TB Partnership Pakistan, stressed that the burden of healthcare delivery should not fall solely on NGOs.
“We must remind governments that TB control is their duty,” he said. “Stop TB Pakistan must step up advocacy across various platforms. Social media, in particular, should be used strategically to amplify our message.”
He further highlighted the importance of public engagement, noting that demand creation should be at the heart of all TB-related efforts to ensure sustainability and progress in eliminating TB.
The meeting concluded with a strong consensus on the need to enhance national ownership, accelerate advocacy efforts, and optimize existing resources to ensure uninterrupted TB services for Pakistan’s most vulnerable populations.
