Peng Liyuan calls for more efforts against TB amid COVID impact

Peng Liyuan, the wife of President Xi Jinping, spoke of the need to have confidence, love and perseverance in preventing and controlling tuberculosis as the task becomes even more arduous due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peng, a goodwill ambassador of the World Health Organization for tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, made the remark as she addressed a special virtual talk show organized by the WHO to commemorate World TB Day on Thursday.

In her speech, Peng said that thanks to the work of the WHO and joint efforts of the international community, the world has made notable progress in the fight against TB in recent years with the numbers of tuberculosis cases and deaths having dropped markedly.

Saying that the Chinese government takes tuberculosis prevention and treatment very seriously, Peng added that the work has been incorporated into the Healthy China Action Plan and special funds have been set up to provide patients with free examination services and drugs for treatment.

The recovery rate of tuberculosis patients in China is above 90 percent, she said, adding that the government has been working actively to ensure that the treatment of tuberculosis patients is not interrupted, even during the pandemic.

Peng was designated as the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in 2011.

She hailed the efforts to combat tuberculosis made by millions of Chinese medical workers and volunteers, including 90-year-old doctor Ma Yu, who has been engaged in tuberculosis diagnosis, treatment, research and teaching for more than 60 years.

There are more than 1 million volunteers across China working to raise public awareness of tuberculosis prevention and treatment and helping patients, Peng said, referring to them as a "spring breeze that spreads love and warmth".

Peng stressed that the disease remains a global issue that seriously endangers public health, even though much has been accomplished in tuberculosis prevention and treatment.

"We must rise to the new challenges with confidence, love and tenacity," she said, expressing hope that countries will share their experience in tuberculosis control and conduct fruitful cooperation.

"Let us stand side by side and work actively to attain the health-related goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as scheduled," she said.