TB PREVENTION BRIEFING
Prevention is essential to ending TB. It stops infection from progressing to disease, protects families and communities and reduces long-term healthcare costs. But global commitments on prevention are not being met leaving millions at risk and driving continued transmission.
Informed by an expert panel of scientists, technical experts and people with lived experience (see below), this briefing published September 2025 explains ‘what good looks like’ for TB prevention and how to overcome common policy and implementation barriers. The primer acts as an Executive Summary.
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EXPERT PANEL
DR OBIOMA CHIJOKE-AKANIRO
Paediatrician and public health specialist, Dr Chijoke-Akaniro is Deputy Director and M&E Lead at Nigeria’s National TB, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme. She leads the development of Nigeria’s TB strategic plans, authored books, and founded an NGO empowering women and girls. She has received national and international awards for her services and holds a PhD in public health, with ongoing work in health financing.
Dr Costa is General Coordinator of Brazil’s National TB Programme, overseeing surveillance of TB, endemic mycoses, and nontuberculosis mycobacteria. With experience in Mozambique on TB/HIV programmes, she has focused on drug-resistant TB and co-infections since 2011. With more than 20 years experience in public health, she is a clinician and public health leader with a Master’s in tropical medicine.
DR FERNANDA DOCKHORN COSTA
PROF GAVIN CHURCHYARD
Prof Churchyard is a leading TB physician, researcher, and founder of The Aurum Institute, South Africa. He holds honorary professorships at Wits University and Vanderbilt Universityand has shaped global TB research priorities through WHO advisory roles. He has led numerous clinical trials, contributed to TB/HIV policy, and published extensively, advancing TB treatment and prevention worldwide.
DR CELESTE GRACIA EDWARDS
Dr Gracia Edwards, a physician and specialist in internal medicine and international public health, is Senior TB/HIV Disease Advisor at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria . With 15+ years’ experience, she has worked in programmatic and clinical TB/HIV management across diverse settings, providing implementation, coordination, and technical advisory support.
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DR. VIOLET CHIHOTA
Dr Chihota, Chief Scientific Officer at The Aurum Institute, is an expert in TB/HIV co-infection, diagnostics, and public health interventions. She has advanced TB detection and treatment strategies in high-burden settings and holds an adjunct faculty role at Vanderbilt University. Her work has significantly contributed to understanding TB transmission and diagnostics.
YULIIA KALANCHA
Mrs Kalancha is the Executive Director of the TB Europe Coalition, with 14 years’ experience in advocacy, policy, and communication. She champions civil society and community engagement in TB responses across the WHO Europe region. She also serves on the WHO Civil Society Task Force on TB, advancing affected communities’ voices in the End TB Strategy.
DR AVINASH KANCHAR
Dr Kanchar, Medical Officer at WHO’s Global TB Programme, specializes in TB preventive treatment, infection control, and digital tools. With 20+ years in global health, he has shaped WHO TB guidelines and supported programmatic management of TPT globally, including a decade in India. His work advances innovation, digital health, and policy in TB prevention and control.
DR PATRICK LUNGU
Dr Lungu, consultant physician and public health specialist, has led Zambia’s National TB and Leprosy Programme, improving outcomes in drug-resistant TB. He has held regional leadership roles with ECSA-HC and chairs the Global TB Contact Investigation Advisory Group. Recognized as a Global TB Elimination Champion, he contributes to WHO working groups and TB policy.
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DR ALBERTO MATTEELLI
Prof Matteelli, Infectious Diseases specialist at the University of Brescia, directs the WHO Collaborating Centre on TB Prevention. He has worked with WHO on malaria and TB and contributed to most global policies on TB infection. Author of 300+ publications, he also chairs the WHO TB Technical Advisory Group for Europe.
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DR SREENIVAS NAIR
Dr Nair is Senior Adviser at the Stop TB Partnership, with 25+ years’ experience in TB care and public health. Formerly with WHO India, he pioneered TB notification systems and standards. His expertise spans TB epidemiology, digital surveillance, private sector engagement, and climate-health links. He has authored 80+ TB publications and advises globally on TB innovations.
EDNA TEMBO
Ms. Tembo works with the Coalition of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (COWLHA), Malawi, advocating for women and girls affected by HIV and TB. She is active in international platforms such as IMPAACT4TB, AfroCAB, and SMART4TB, advancing civil society engagement in TB, HIV, NTDs, and SRHR policy and strategy. Edna Tembo acted as the lived experience expert on the TB Prevention panel.