National TB Coalition (NTC) Establishment: Summary of the Launching Ceremony

The official launching ceremony of the Ethiopian National TB Coalition (NTC) and its new Bylaw took place on October 28, 2025, at Sarem Hotel in Addis Ababa. Around 40 participants from various governmental and non-governmental organizations, partners, CSO representatives, and local associations from different regions participated in the event. The launch was successfully organized by Love in Action Ethiopia in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the National TB Coalition, and other partners, with financial support from the Global Fund – Grant Cycle 7.

Mr. Mesfin Belay, Grant and Finance Director at Love in Action, opened the event with a warm welcome. He specifically acknowledged the dedicated technical team that developed the NTC Bylaw and expressed gratitude to the Global Fund for its financial and technical backing, and the Ministry of Health for its leadership.

Keynote addresses were delivered by the Country Coordinating Mechanism of Ethiopia (CCM/E) representative and, executive directors of Organic Health and Voluntary Health Services. They stressed the strategic importance of the NTC, highlighting its potential to:

Create synergy and unity among TB stakeholders.
Foster a sense of ownership and local leadership.
Promote sustainability of the TB response.
Strengthening the engagement of civil society organizations
Enhance the implementation of the National TB Strategic Plan.

The participants universally praised the NTC’s establishment as a milestone for advancing multi-sectoral coordination in the fight against tuberculosis.

Mr. Taye Letta, National TB and Leprosy Desk Leader at the Ministry of Health, delivered a crucial opening speech, emphasizing the urgent need for collaboration with the NTC. He underscored the severe TB burden in Ethiopia, as the current TB incidence is estimated at 146 per 100,000 population, and tragically, over 19,000 people lose their lives annually to the disease. He stressed that the government alone cannot defeat TB. The active participation of civic organizations, communities, and other stakeholders is essential to accelerate progress toward the Global Target of Ending TB. Without this collective action, the country risks prolonged timelines and preventable loss of lives. Finally, Mr. Kifle Mitiku, Project Coordinator at Love in Action Ethiopia, presented a summary of the draft Bylaw. He covered its objectives, the rationale for the NTC’s establishment, the structure of the General Assembly, and membership criteria. Following a productive discussion among the participants, the launch ceremony concluded with the official endorsement of the National TB Coalition Bylaw.