In order to make an annual assessment of the successes, challenges and prospects of TB control in the West and Central African regions, the coordinators and Heads of Laboratory of the NTPs that are members of WARN/CARN-TB meet each year to discuss, among themselves and with partners, ways and means of strengthening the performance of TB control services. With this in mind, the joint meeting of NTP coordinators and TB Heads of Laboratory took place from 23 to 27 February 2021. The meeting was organised with technical and financial support from the Global Fund, WHO/TDR and The Access end Delivery Partnership. To enable participants who could not travel from their home country to take part in the discussions, the meeting was held simultaneously in person in Cotonou and virtually via the Zoom platform.
The meeting provided an opportunity for participants to discuss the important issue of monitoring the safety of anti-tuberculosis drugs in the countries of the region. Participants also discussed ways and means of boosting regional performance in the fight against tuberculosis in the context of COVID-19. Finally, the members of WARN/CARN-TB jointly defined the roadmap to be followed in 2021 in order to get closer to the 2030 objectives of the EndTB strategy.
At the end of the meeting, participants said they were very satisfied with the discussions and decisions taken. They undertook to implement in their respective programmes the measures needed to achieve the objectives set.