Former UN Messenger of Peace to Fight Tuberculosis as a Stop TB Ambassador

Former UN Messenger of Peace to Fight Tuberculosis as a Stop TB Ambassador

September 20, 2007

    GENEVA, Sept. 20 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Anna Cataldi,
who served as UN Messenger of Peace from 1998 to 2007, has
joined the global fight against tuberculosis (TB).  Ms
Cataldi, who was today appointed as an Ambassador of the
Stop TB Partnership, will raise awareness worldwide about
the unfair burden of TB on refugees, migrants, people
living in poverty and other disadvantaged groups.

    (Logo: 
http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/20061102095006-51.jpg )

    "I am grateful to the Stop TB Partnership for
giving me this opportunity to advocate on behalf of those
suffering from this disease," Ms Cataldi said.

    Welcoming the announcement, former United Nations
Secretary-General Kofi Annan praised Anna Cataldi for her
tireless efforts and devotion.  "She was an active,
compassionate and productive Messenger.  She travelled to
difficult places, such as Afghanistan and Somalia, to bring
support, encouragement and hope to the desperate and
voiceless . I am delighted she will now devote her energies
to the Stop TB campaign," he said.

    The Stop TB Partnership, whose secretariat is hosted by
the World Health Organization (WHO), is a network of more
than 500 international organizations, countries, donors
from the public and private sectors, TB patients and
nongovernmental and governmental organizations.  The
Partnership's goal is to eliminate TB as a public health
problem worldwide.

    In 2005 there were 8.8 million new cases of TB. The
disease kills 4400 people every day, even though it has
been treatable and preventable for more than half a
century.

    "Anna Cataldi has an extraordinary track record of
galvanizing people to confront issues that cause human
suffering," said Dr Marcos Espinal, Executive
Secretary of the Stop TB Partnership.  "She will be a
strong voice calling for access to TB prevention, diagnosis
and treatment as a human right."

    The Stop TB Partnership has set out an ambitious plan:
The Global Plan to Stop TB (2006-2015).  Launched by the
Stop TB Partnership in January 2006, the plan is a roadmap
for treating 50 million people for TB between now and 2015
and save about 14 million lives.  It aims to halve TB
prevalence and deaths compared with 1990 levels by 2015.

    "Ms Cataldi is sure to advance the global fight
against TB. We welcome her appointment
enthusiastically," said Dr Mario Raviglione, Director
of the Stop TB Department at WHO.

    Ms Cataldi, who is from Italy, is the author of Letters
from Sarajevo, which chronicled the impact of war on
Bosnia's children.  In 1998, to mark the 50th anniversary
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, she initiated
a project to create and distribute a passport-sized pamphlet
version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for
children.  In March 2007, she conceived and help organize a
photo exhibit focussing on TB at UN Headquarters that was
viewed by more than 100 000 people.



    For further information, please contact:

     Judith Mandelbaum-Schmid
     Communications Officer
     Stop TB Partnership
     Tel:    [phone]
     Mobile: [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]

     Vittorio Cammarota
     Celebrities and Special Events Officer
     Stop TB Partnership
     Tel:    [phone]
     Mobile: [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]