More than seventy people from across the country spoke about rights and responsibilities to improve tuberculosis (TB) and HIV responses on 24-25 November 2009 in Jakarta, Indonesia. From a 13 year old ex-patient (she was a TB patient when she was 9) to the representative from sub-directorate of National TB and HIV programmes had an open consultation to raise the right of access to care. The Director of HIV programme in Indonesia acknowledged the problem and committed to making the rights and responsibilities framework a reality.
Yoana Anandita from National TB Programme (NTP) in Indonesia who was speaking at the Advocacy, Communications and Social Mobilization (ACSM) meeting before the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health opens in Cancun, Mexico, reaffirmed the genuine engagement and consultation this roadshow provided between different stakeholders.
"The Roadshow rolled in Indonesia raising rights and responsibilities for HIV and TB up the agenda, down in the streets of our communities and on high in the towers of power. We invited diverse people to consult, discuss, write, plan, agree and act - to move forward locally in global common cause" said Case Gordon, President, World Care Council (WCC).
The World Care Council (WCC) has been a global leader in driving forward a Rights and Responsibilities approach to health, advocating that people suffering from infectious diseases have specific universal rights to quality care, and have an individual responsibility to prevent the spread of illness to others. Health providers, both public and private, have the responsibility to provide consumers with the highest possible quality of care, and the right to have the appropriate tools to do so.