01.12.2021

EB Fund and LHL International Partnership Meeting in St. Petersburg

Within the X Congress of the National Association of Phthisiologists, a Partnership meeting between EB Fund, partners and LHL International was held in St. Petersburg.

Restrictive measures related to the Covid-19 pandemic have affected most of physical meetings, so this meeting turned out to be long-awaited, lively and fruitful!

Sergey Vodopyanov, Head Doctor of the Republican TB Dispensary, Tatyana Mikhailovskaya, acting Head Doctor of the Murmansk TB Dispensary, Mariya Bogoslovskaya Deputy Head Doctor of the Murmansk TB Dispensary, Oksana Andreeva, TB Doctor from Severodvinsk City Hospital, Nina Nizovtseva, Aleksandra Staritsyna from the EB Fund took part in the meeting.

The online meeting was attended by Anna Eilertsen, Advisor of the LHL International Tuberculosis Foundation Internacional (Norway).

Anna Eilertsen shared the history of the creation of the THO Norwegian Patients Society (1943), later transformed into the National Association of Heart and Lung Diseases LHL (1961).

In 1980, LHL members began international activities. In 2013, the LHL International Tuberculosis Foundation was founded.

LHL International's vision: The World Free of TB!

- providing patient-centered approaches in the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis;

- combating stigma and discrimination against people suffering from tuberculosis;

- support for the participation of society and patient organizations in initiatives aimed at preventing tuberculosis;

- assistance in providing funding for initiatives and research in the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis.

The participants of the meeting discussed the challenges that arise during the implementation of project activities during the pandemic. Also, presenters shared new developments and achievements acquired at this time.

The main conclusion: the pandemic made people united not only against covid-19, but also against other infections. We learnt to adapt to unforeseen challenges.

The participants unanimously expressed their wish to continue cooperation, confirming that now it's easier to face and cope with the challenges when having good backing.