The Short Course Directly Observed Treatment of Tuberculosis (DOTS)
Ensures complete recovery from the disease-ten thousand cases cured in ten years
Leaders and celebrities conduct WHO campaign to stop tuberculosis and reduce the stigma of Tuberculosis

Cairo, Egypt
With the start of the countdown to 24 March, preparations are underway for the launching of the WHO global campaign to stop tuberculosis.  The ultimate aim is to enhance hope, among the more than two billion people with tuberculosis, and to stress the fact that this disease can be successfully treated, and completely cured in just a few months.

In 7 day's time, six locations, throughout the world, will have completed preparations to launch the campaign, which will coincide with the World Tuberculosis Day, celebrated this year under the slogan "DOTS cured me-it will cure you too."  World celebrities such as the African leader Nelson Mandela and the American star Tina Turner, will take part in this campaign, which will be launched, for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, from Cairo.  Simultaneously, five other campaigns, will be launched from Washington, Manila, New Delhi, London, and Johannesburg.  The activities of the day will be organized by WHO, in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Control Programme of the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population.

The activities of World Tuberculosis Day, and its associated campaign, will focus on the people particularly those affected with tuberculosis, their relatives and their contacts, and the health message being aimed at them.  The message affirms that tuberculosis is a disease that can be totally cured, and that patients suffering from it, like those suffering from any other disease, can regain their health and vitality and have a full life again, without burden to families or communities, simply by following the (DOTS) strategy.  The message will also stress that this strategy, launched by WHO some years ago, has saved ten million people with tuberculosis in the past 10 years, all of whom were completely cured from the disease through strict adherence to DOTS and proper medical monitoring.

The World Tuberculosis Day campaign will include statements made by tuberculosis patients who have been cured, in addition to statements from patients still under treatment.  The aim is to fight and reduce the social stigma associated with tuberculosis, which causes patients to cut themselves off from their community, and in many cases leads to the lowering of their living standards.

Patients who have been cured will provide living evidence of the effectiveness of DOTS, and the celebrities taking part in the campaign will play a significant role in reducing the social stigma associated with the disease.  Among these people who at some stage of their lives have had tuberculosis, been cured of it, and have gone on with their life and work, attaining distinguished positions in their communities.  All are reliable and influential characters, enjoying deep respect and appreciation.

The Regional Office, in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Control Programme, of the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, is currently finalizing preparations for the celebration, to be held in Cairo, on 24 March 2003, and which will be attended by His Excellency, the Minister of Health and Population of Egypt, and a number of responsible officers from both WHO headquarters and the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.  The agenda of this celebration includes listening to the statements of former patients who have been cured of tuberculosis, in addition to reviewing the information materials produced for the purpose of the campaign, and an open discussion with the media.