By Patience Longwe
Lilongwe, November 16, Mana: Chief Executive Officer for Shaping Our Future Foundation (SOFF) Dr. Micheal Mkandawire says his organization will hold a high-level breakfast on Monday as one way of helping to end Tuberculosis (TB)by 2030 and also to end stigma as a nation.
Speaking during a press briefing on Friday at the Central Office of Information in Lilongwe, Mkandawire said the high-level breakfast will bring together different stakeholders from across the country.
“The First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera will on Monday 18th November host a High- Breakfast to amplify missing voices aimed at ending Tuberculosis (TB). The function is scheduled to take place at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
"We will be joined by people from the Global Fund and other stakeholders from across the country to amplify global health and voice towards ending the disease," said Mkandawire.
Technical Advisor for Paradiso TB patients Trustie, Mara Kubweza said their involvement in the High- level breakfast is for them to show the world that TB survivors are there to minimise stigma across the world.
"We are very honoured as TB survivors to be part of this auspicious occasion. We will take advantage of this gathering to make a statement about what is happening in the country and also bring up the issues that are affecting us in the response,” she said.
Meanwhile, Executive Director of Facilitators of Community Transformation (FACT) Thokozile Phiri said they know some of the stigmas that have been there and are working towards minimising them.
"We have been doing awareness in Malawi to make sure that people are aware of TB and how to end it. With strong political will, we can end TB. We are very happy that the First Lady of this country is an ambassador for TB,” she said.