Kyrgyzstan Relaunches National TB Caucus to Strengthen Fight Against Tuberculosis

On 19 March 2026, parliamentarians and partners convened at the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan to mark the relaunch of the National TB Caucus in Kyrgyzstan. This moment signals a new chapter in the fight against tuberculosis, strengthening political leadership and ensuring tuberculosis remains a national priority during a period of political transition.

The meeting brought together newly elected Members of Parliament, civil society representatives and international partners, reinforcing a coordinated tuberculosis response in Kyrgyzstan. By aligning leadership and strengthening collaboration, the relaunch of the National TB Caucus in Kyrgyzstan highlights the critical role of parliamentary engagement in driving progress to end tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, despite being preventable, treatable and curable. Progress is not limited by solutions, but by how consistently tuberculosis is prioritised, funded and implemented across national systems .

A key milestone of the meeting was the appointment of Ms. Gulnara Marishovna Baatyrova, Member of Parliament, as Head of the National TB Caucus in Kyrgyzstan. With experience as former Minister of Health and Minister of Labour, she brings both technical expertise and political leadership to strengthen the tuberculosis response in Kyrgyzstan. Her leadership is expected to drive stronger policy direction, improve accountability and ensure sustained parliamentary action on tuberculosis.

The relaunch convened a broad coalition of stakeholders working across the tuberculosis response in Kyrgyzstan. Participants included Aibek Mukanbetov, Consultant to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Chynara Bakirova, Executive Director of the Anti-AIDS Association and civil society focal point of the Global TB Caucus, Aizhamal Shambetova from the Center for Health Development and Medical Technologies under the Ministry of Health, and Ilimbek Sydykov, Consultant to the United Nations Development Programme.

Parliamentary participation reflected strong cross-sector engagement, including Gulkan Sakinovna Moldobekova, Chair of the Committee on Labour, Social Protection, Health and Migration, Sovetbek Rustambek uulu, Gulzhan Erkinbekovna Satieva, and Elvira Jyrgalbekovna Surabaldieva, Chair of the Committee on International Affairs, Defence, Security and Migration. This level of representation reinforces the importance of coordinated parliamentary leadership in strengthening the tuberculosis response in Kyrgyzstan.

Discussions throughout the meeting focused on sustaining political momentum, strengthening health systems and ensuring tuberculosis remains a legislative priority. The inclusion of newly elected Members of Parliament reflects both continuity and expansion of the National TB Caucus in Kyrgyzstan, ensuring that progress in the tuberculosis response is maintained and accelerated.

The Global TB Caucus recognises the continued leadership of the National TB Caucus in Kyrgyzstan and expresses its appreciation to the Secretariat of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan for its consistent support. Civil society partners, including the Anti-AIDS Association, remain central to ensuring that the tuberculosis response is people-centred and grounded in lived experience. The importance of using respectful, people-centred language in tuberculosis communications remains critical to reducing stigma and strengthening engagement.

The relaunch of the National TB Caucus in Kyrgyzstan reflects a clear commitment to strengthening the political foundations required to end tuberculosis. Sustained parliamentary leadership, combined with coordinated national and international support, is essential to advancing the tuberculosis response and ensuring that commitments translate into measurable impact.

Kyrgyzstan’s renewed commitment demonstrates that ending tuberculosis requires more than ambition. It requires consistent leadership, sustained investment and coordinated action across all sectors. The National TB Caucus in Kyrgyzstan is positioned to play a central role in driving this progress.

Ending tuberculosis is within reach, but only if it remains a political priority. The relaunch of the National TB Caucus in Kyrgyzstan signals that this commitment is in place and that the work to strengthen the tuberculosis response is moving forward with clarity and purpose.