The Experts’ Consultation on Communication and Social Mobilization (Cancun, June 2003) as well as the Stop TB Advocacy and Communication Task Force (Johannesburg, September 2003) recommended that a formal entity be established within the Stop TB Partnership to facilitate the development, implementation and evaluation of TB advocacy, communication social mobilization interventions under the Global Plan to Stop TB. In response to these recommendations, the Stop TB Coordinating Board (CB) authorized the creation of a Working Group on Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization in March 2004. In February 2005, the ACSM Working Group approved the creation of a subgroup on ACSM at country level and the Subgroup met for the first time in September 2005 in Mexico City.
The Global Advocacy and Resource Mobilization Subgroup was replaced with an Advocacy Advisory Committee which has the mandate to advise the Board and Secretariat on advocacy strategies and to help the Partnership encourage and engage the broad network of advocacy-active Partners and Working Groups.
Vision
An empowered community to actively support TB control efforts. By utilizing advocacy, communication and social mobilization strategies from health-care settings to households, TB patients will be supported and treated effectively with dignity and respect. In addition, those most affected by TB will be involved in shaping the response.
Objectives To achieve its vision, the ACSM Subgroup has the following objectives:
The Global Advocacy and Resource Mobilization Subgroup was replaced with an Advocacy Advisory Committee which has the mandate to advise the Board and Secretariat on advocacy strategies and to help the Partnership encourage and engage the broad network of advocacy-active Partners and Working Groups.
Vision
An empowered community to actively support TB control efforts. By utilizing advocacy, communication and social mobilization strategies from health-care settings to households, TB patients will be supported and treated effectively with dignity and respect. In addition, those most affected by TB will be involved in shaping the response.
Objectives To achieve its vision, the ACSM Subgroup has the following objectives:
- To provide countries and partners with guidance and necessary tools for the strategic implementation of Component 5 of the Stop TB Strategy "Empower people with TB, and communities through partnership" which includes advocacy, communication and social mobilization, community and patient involvement in TB care and prevention and the Patient's Charter for Tuberculosis Care.
- To provide the evidence for and advocate at country-level for prioritization and more financial commitment to the strategic implementation of Component 5, currently the newest component in most countries.
- To develop an ongoing forum for discussion and sharing of lessons learnt and best practices on the most effective and appropriate ACSM strategies and methodologies to achieve key behavioural and social changes that will contribute to preventing TB infection and increasing case detection and cure rates in a sustainable fashion.
