In the TB world, one of the biggest problems is that no major advocacy group has been making enough noise to generate interest. What the TB arena needs are pictures showing the death and destruction that TB causes, much like the shots of the Ethiopian famine in the 1980's. There are few linkages between federally funded research and applied industry research, or between the various federal agencies, such as AID, the State Department, and CDC, on foreign health issues. These links need to be strengthened or new patterns of collaboration need to be developed. Health advocacy groups also need to work together to combat global health problems, and not act as completely separate entities.
Collaboration can occur in many ways, but it needs to happen.
In their first year, it met with various agencies and formed important contacts. It now plans to try and bring together some of these organizations in an advocacy meeting, the purpose of which is to design a legislative action plan involving the energy and work of all the groups involved. Agencies can also come together on the implementation of ideas, such as working together on rallies. The power of numbers is essential in promoting civic change. Communication and collaboration are essential because they further the cause of global health.