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US tuberculosis survivors share their stories to educate congress

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The Union co-hosted an event in Washington, DC, USA, which brought together tuberculosis (TB) survivors to share their experiences of battling the world’s leading infectious killer.

The Union co-hosted an event in Washington, DC, USA, which brought together tuberculosis (TB) survivors to share their experiences of battling the world’s leading infectious killer.

During the day TB survivors Khayr Abdi, Shaka Brown, Julie Higashi, Kelly Holland, Nicole Kelly, and TayTay Taylor spoke and participated in various meetings with congressional offices to educate them about TB, and the need to address TB in the US and globally. Kate O'Brien from We Are TB moderated the briefing in the House of Representatives. 

Discussions addressed the need for research and development, scaling up prevention efforts, and building support for the Comprehensive TB Elimination Act.

We are TB is a community of TB survivors, people with TB, and their families. From the unique perspective of the people with the disease, TB Ambassadors educate the country on the reality of TB, using their own personal stories to drive change. The community also supports one another through diagnosis, treatment and afterwards.

The Union’s co-sponsors were the American Thoracic Society, RESULTS Educational Fund, TB Alliance, National Tuberculosis Controllers Association (NTCA), Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), Treatment Action Group (TAG), and Stop TB USA.

Image is taken outside the office of Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. From left to right: Paul Jenson, Union Director of Policy and Strategy, Nicole Kelly and Kelly Holland (TB survivors), Nuala Moore from the American Thoracic Society, Susan Garramone from Oxford Immunotec, and Donna Wegener from the National TB Controllers Association.