Overcame drug-resistant tuberculosis, woman discovers her speaking power

Zolelwa Sifumba, a young doctor from South Africa, has become a beacon of hope in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), particularly multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). Fourteen years ago, Sifumba was diagnosed with MDR-TB, a form of the disease that is one of the most brutal and deadly. Only 40% of patients survived treatment at the time.

Sifumba's personal journey with MDR-TB led her to become a full-time patient activist with TB Proof, an organisation dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and strengthening prevention of drug-resistant TB. Through her work, she emphasises the importance of delivering a message of hope to other MDR-TB patients.

Sifumba's advocacy and activism have reached global audiences. She has engaged with influential individuals like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, U2's Bono, and French President Emmanuel Macron about TB issues. Her efforts are not limited to high-profile meetings; she is also working to increase public health information about TB, particularly in schools.

The Tuberculosis Drug Accelerator, a collaborative effort aimed at finding new treatment regimens for TB, including MDR forms, is one of the initiatives supporting Sifumba's mission. Scientists around the world are working to develop shorter, simpler, and more effective TB treatments. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, an organisation that has helped save 44 million lives, is another key player in this fight.

Nandipha Titana, a health worker in South Africa, shares Sifumba's commitment to fighting TB. Titana connects people to care and builds trust in her community through her work at Be Part. Linda Mafu, Head of Political, Civil Society Advocacy at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, speaks on the connection between the Global Fund and women's empowerment.

The Gates Foundation's Senior Program Officer, TB Delivery, discusses exciting innovations in the TB R&D pipeline. These advancements offer hope for a future where TB is no longer a global health crisis.

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