In February 2025, the first annual meeting of the Southern and East Africa Regional TB Network (SEARN-TB) was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Organized by AHRI, the secretariat of SEARN TB, this annual meeting was an opportunity to bring together representatives of the 22+ national TB programmes in the SEARN TB region to take stock of progress made since the establishment of the network in 2023 and identify priority actions for the year to come.
During the opening ceremony of the annual meeting, in a speech given by H.E Dr. Dereje Duguma state minister for the Ethiopian Minister of Health, he noted:
“SEARN-TB is more than a network; it is a commitment. A commitment that no country in our region will fight TB in isolation. A covenant that we will harmonize strategies, share innovations, and amplify Africa’s voice in the global TB response. With 22 nations now united, and through synergy with our sister network WARN/CARN-TB in the West and Central African region, we are dismantling borders to build a TB-free sub-Saharan Africa.”
Over three days, participants shared and discussed the main challenges faced by their respective programs, heard updates on the latest global guidelines from WHO colleagues at the Global TB Program shared progress on local implementation research initiatives and were introduced to the most recent TDR-developed IR tools for evaluating TB focused social protection schemes, using digital technologies and treatment decision algorithms for children with suspected TB. Critically, NTPs identified priority actions to be undertaken by the network that could promote collaboration among members and the adoption of harmonised and evidence-informed approaches to strengthening TB control in the region.
On the final day of the meeting, the network elected the NTPs of Djibouti and Zimbabwe as the new network co-chairs for 2025, replacing the NTPs of Malawi and Ethiopia. The new co-chairs will play an important role in setting agendas for upcoming network events and working to engage both anglophone and francophone colleagues in the network.
At the closing of the annual meeting, Professor Afework Kassu Gizaw, the Director General of AHRI, thanked participants for their enthusiasm and commitment to the objectives of the network, noting how this was a crucial ingredient in building and sustaining the momentum of the network at such an early stage of its development.
WHO/TDR will continue to provide hands-on support to SEARN TB, alongside TDR’s support to its sister network, WARN/CARN TB. Together, these networks provide important platforms for working directly with national TB programs throughout Africa to use implementation research as a key tool to enhance TB control and advance progress toward global TB elimination targets.