We are thrilled to announce our highly successful participation at the 56th UNION World Conference on Lung Health, held in Copenhagen, Denmark. As the world’s largest and most crucial platform dedicated to ending TB, the conference provided the perfect opportunity to showcase REACH Ethiopia’s innovative, evidence-driven work and our commitment to equitable TB programming across Ethiopia.
Strong Scientific Impact: Three Abstracts on Equity and Innovation
Our dedicated team made a strong impact at the conference by presenting three highly impactful scientific abstracts. These presentations underscored our commitment to finding and implementing effective, people-centered solutions for TB elimination.
🏆 Key Oral Presentations:
- Boosting Adherence in Pastoralist Communities: We presented data demonstrating the effectiveness of an innovative Color Card system combined with the support of community volunteers. This model proved successful in reaching missed TB patients and significantly boosting treatment adherence within hard-to-reach pastoralist settings.
- Optimizing Mass Screening Strategy: We shared a critical Cost-Effectiveness Analysis comparing Pooled GeneXpert versus TB-LAMP testing methodologies. This crucial research provides insights for optimizing resource allocation and maximizing the impact of mass screening campaigns in high-burden settings.
💻 E-Poster Presentation:
- Sustaining Services in Conflict-Affected Areas: Our E-Poster focused on the resilience and delivery of essential TB services in conflict-affected Tigray. This work highlighted the power of rights-based, community-led approaches in sustaining vital public health programs even amidst complex humanitarian challenges.
Recognition for Innovation and Technology Adoption
Beyond the scientific data, REACH Ethiopia was recognized as an innovation adopter within the global TB community. This recognition highlights our successful efforts in leveraging cost-effective models and emerging technologies—including AI-powered solutions—to efficiently reach key affected populations who are often underserved.
Fostering Powerful Global Collaborations
Our participation in the UNION World Conference was instrumental in strengthening our technical insights and fostering powerful new collaborations. We engaged with global experts and key partners, including representatives from the U.S. Government, Expertise France, and the Stop TB Partnership. These strengthened alliances are vital for ensuring the sustainability and scale-up of our high-impact programs.
We are energized by the insights gained and the partnerships forged in Copenhagen. We remain committed to advancing toward a TB-free Ethiopia through continuous innovation and people-centered solutions.
