Courageously and collegially, Thelma tested the patience—I mean the inertia—of national, regional, and global leaders to bring life-saving treatment and care to people affected by MDR-TB, through different responsibilities in her career, including being the chair of the MDR-TB Working Group of the Stop TB Partnership, while leading the very first project approved by the Green Light Committee in the year 2000.
Her legacy includes a cadre of global experts in MDR-TB such as Mamel Quelapio, Maricelle Gler, and Zaza Munez, for example.
Behind a great woman there is often a man. Her husband, Dr. Pedro Claver Ramos, was a constant source of love, support, and wise advice at all times. Thelma passed away in the company of him and her children early today in Manila.
Please join me in honoring her life and immense contributions to people affected by TB with a minute of silence.
STAG-TB (Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Tuberculosis) provides objective, ongoing technical and strategic advice to WHO related to TB care and control. It is composed of 23 experts representing ministries of health, national TB control programmes, academic and research institutions, civil society organizations, communities and patients affected by tuberculosis, and professional associations. WHO’s Global TB Programme serves as the secretariat for STAG-TB.
