From Copenhagen Denmark, the Combat DR-TB consortium led by KELIN and partners from TBEC, GHPP and Jointed Hands concluded an impactful five days at the Union World Conference on Lung Health 2025 from the 18th to 21st of November 2025. Collectively, they showcased the vital role of community-led, rights-based responses in the global effort to end drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). Across plenaries, technical sessions, community actions and strategic meetings, the delegation highlighted the need to pair scientific advances with real world implementation, accountability and equity.
A celebratory start and a call for community investment
The conference opened with a major moment for Kenya and the global TB community with Prof. Jeremiah Chakaya Muhwa, former president of the Union receiving the prestigious Union Medal for his outstanding contribution to the fight against TB.
A powerful community-led protest amplified the central message of the day “Fund communities to end TB.” Activists urged donors and governments to scale up investment in community systems who are widely acknowledged as the first responders and the backbone of last-mile delivery.
The World Health Organization released important updates on TB and DR-TB including new guidance on nutritional support, rapid diagnostics, CAD enabled X-ray technologies, expanded screening tools and preventive therapy for people living with HIV and high-risk groups. These developments strongly validated the COMBAT DR-TB mission to advance community-centred care and WHO recommended short-course regimens.
The science is clear but the “How” remains the missing Piece of the puzzle
Discussions on social determinants of TB dominated the second day with new evidence linking nutrition, climate pressures, housing and poverty to TB outcomes. Yet, as delegates noted, operational plans and budgets to act on this evidence remain limited.
The KELIN team engaged with innovators showcasing digital tools, smart data systems and emerging diagnostics. While the technologies were promising, the team emphasized the need for rights-based safeguards, including data protection, equitable access and remedies for potential harms, a key focus of KELIN’s Digital Health and Rights work.
A major highlight was the rising pipeline of long-acting technologies including Johnson & Johnson’s Phase 1 trial of long-acting injectable bedaquiline. With MDR/RR-TB treatment success at only 71%, long-acting regimens could transform adherence and patient experience by reducing pill burden and clinic visits.
Centering Rights, Dignity and Community Voice
The message from COMBAT DR-TB remained consistent throughout the Conference: Innovation must be matched with strong community systems, accountability frameworks and practical implementation pathways. Science alone is not enough
At the Community Connect session, KELIN’s Senior Program Manager, Timothy Wafula shared Kenya’s journey toward a rights-based approach to TB justice from the removal of forced isolation policies to strengthening community-led dialogues and legal empowerment for TB patients. The session underscored how dignity, human rights and patient participation directly improve outcomes.
The COMBAT DR-TB consortium also joined the Unitaid Portfolio Coordination Meeting, presenting progress, challenges and opportunities for synergy with fellow grantees. The discussions reaffirmed the power of multi-country collaboration in building a more equitable and effective DR-TB response.
Closing the week with a focus on equity and policy reform
The final day spotlighted one of the projects most critical session, an oral abstract presentation by the Centre for Global Health Policy & Politics (Georgetown Law). The presentation examined the rights to TB care on incarcerated populations across six countries, analysing screening, treatment continuity and accountability mechanisms.
The findings echoed the core principle of COMBAT DR-TB, no population should be left behind, including people in prisons, detention facilities and other closed settings. With consortium partners from Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Moldova, Tajikistan and Ukraine, we continue to champion evidence-based, community-driven policy reforms in the spaces where health, rights and justice intersect.
A renewed commitment to ending TB
As the conference concluded, KELIN leaves Copenhagen with renewed momentum, solidarity and clarity of purpose. Across all five days, one message emerged boadly
“Ending TB requires more than scientific breakthroughs, it demands community power, rights-based approaches and clear, funded pathways from evidence to action’’.
For more information, please contact:
Duke Otieno
Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)
Kuwinda Lane, Karen C, off Langáta Road
