TB care reaches the UN General Assembly

A WHO Africa report dated African Traditional Medicine Day describes assurances to Nigerian traditional medicine practitioners about protecting their intellectual property.

The Nigerian discussion emphasized that medicinal knowledge belongs to practitioners and requires appropriate protection when used in research or production.

An official discussion connected traditional practitioners with national health policy on African Traditional Medicine Day.

The day’s reporting foregrounded the rights of knowledge holders whose practices and recipes could otherwise be appropriated.

At a UN high-level meeting, governments set targets to expand TB prevention and care.

Health leaders discussed funding, research and accountability for ending TB.

The 2018 pledges were policy commitments, not proof that tuberculosis had ended.

Governments endorsed a declaration committing to stronger primary health care.

The new declaration followed the 1978 commitment to health for all.

Delegates placed community-based primary care at the centre of health-system plans.