The United States leading the fight against TB
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Ambassador James F. Moriarty
ALMOST a century ago, America was locked in a battle against tuberculosis (TB), which killed thousands annually and was one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Today, even though a cure for drug-sensitive TB has existed for more than 50 years, TB remains second only to HIV among infectious killers worldwide. It is a disease that hits the poorest and most vulnerable groups, especially women and children. This is why the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes a day each year, World Tuberculosis Day on March 24th, to call attention to the disease and to mobilize action to combat it.
One-third of the world's population is infected with dormant TB. Approximately 9.2 million people develop the active form of the disease each year. This highly contagious active form spreads through the air from one person to another through coughing and sneezing. About 1.7 million people die annually of TB.
The American people are making major investments to prevent and control TB in countries around the world where the burden of the disease is highest. Through our active engagement in the STOP TB Partnership, we are a key partner to intense global efforts to achieve the Partnership's Global Plan targets to halve TB prevalence and deaths by 2015 relative to 1990 levels. Achieving this goal could save 14 million lives, not to mention the economic benefits for nations.
There is good news to share. According to The 2009 Global Tuberculosis Control Report, released by the WHO, TB prevalence and death rates are falling globally, while detection of new cases of TB and access to high-quality anti-TB treatments are on the rise. Three of six regions in the world (Americas, Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia) are on track to achieve the Global Plan's 2015 targets, and the Western Pacific Region is making strong strides toward the goal.
Bangladesh, like many other countries around the world, has achieved remarkable progress in controlling TB over the past several years. Diagnostic and treatment services are now widely available across the country, contributing to high detection and treatment success rates. In Bangladesh, the United States is helping by funding detection and treatments programmes and training medical personnel, as well as by providing needed equipment and supplies to clinics on the front lines in the fight against TB.
However, much work remains to be done. Neither Africa nor Europe is on track to meet the targets. Because HIV fuels the TB epidemic, the number of HIV-positive TB cases and deaths are twice what was previously thought. Multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB threatens to undermine years of progress in TB control, because the treatment requires different and more costly drugs. New approaches to diagnose TB, coupled with improved health delivery systems and stronger community awareness, are critical to earlier detection and treatment.
The United States remains fully committed to working with all of our partners to renew the charge against TB. The American people have donated $3.3 billion to the Global Fund (GF) since 2002. Almost $1.71 billion has been approved by the GF for phase 1 and 2 TB grants in 91 countries. Global Fund investments have provided 3.9 million people with treatment for tuberculosis.
The United States is the largest single-country bilateral donor for TB, and since 1998 it has provided more than $777 million to global TB control programs. The United States is a leading donor to the Global TB Drug Facility to expand access to, and availability of, high-quality anti-TB drugs, providing nearly $15 million in 2008. More than 450,000 patients will benefit from this life-saving assistance from the American people.
On World Tuberculosis Day, the United States renews its pledge to work with countries and the international community to successfully implement the Global Plan to Stop TB. The lives of millions of people across the globe depend on true international cooperation.
The writer is the US Ambassador to Bangladesh
ALMOST a century ago, America was locked in a battle against tuberculosis (TB), which killed thousands annually and was one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Today, even though a cure for drug-sensitive TB has existed for more than 50 years, TB remains second only to HIV among infectious killers worldwide. It is a disease that hits the poorest and most vulnerable groups, especially women and children. This is why the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes a day each year, World Tuberculosis Day on March 24th, to call attention to the disease and to mobilize action to combat it.
One-third of the world's population is infected with dormant TB. Approximately 9.2 million people develop the active form of the disease each year. This highly contagious active form spreads through the air from one person to another through coughing and sneezing. About 1.7 million people die annually of TB.
The American people are making major investments to prevent and control TB in countries around the world where the burden of the disease is highest. Through our active engagement in the STOP TB Partnership, we are a key partner to intense global efforts to achieve the Partnership's Global Plan targets to halve TB prevalence and deaths by 2015 relative to 1990 levels. Achieving this goal could save 14 million lives, not to mention the economic benefits for nations.
There is good news to share. According to The 2009 Global Tuberculosis Control Report, released by the WHO, TB prevalence and death rates are falling globally, while detection of new cases of TB and access to high-quality anti-TB treatments are on the rise. Three of six regions in the world (Americas, Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia) are on track to achieve the Global Plan's 2015 targets, and the Western Pacific Region is making strong strides toward the goal.
Bangladesh, like many other countries around the world, has achieved remarkable progress in controlling TB over the past several years. Diagnostic and treatment services are now widely available across the country, contributing to high detection and treatment success rates. In Bangladesh, the United States is helping by funding detection and treatments programmes and training medical personnel, as well as by providing needed equipment and supplies to clinics on the front lines in the fight against TB.
However, much work remains to be done. Neither Africa nor Europe is on track to meet the targets. Because HIV fuels the TB epidemic, the number of HIV-positive TB cases and deaths are twice what was previously thought. Multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB threatens to undermine years of progress in TB control, because the treatment requires different and more costly drugs. New approaches to diagnose TB, coupled with improved health delivery systems and stronger community awareness, are critical to earlier detection and treatment.
The United States remains fully committed to working with all of our partners to renew the charge against TB. The American people have donated $3.3 billion to the Global Fund (GF) since 2002. Almost $1.71 billion has been approved by the GF for phase 1 and 2 TB grants in 91 countries. Global Fund investments have provided 3.9 million people with treatment for tuberculosis.
The United States is the largest single-country bilateral donor for TB, and since 1998 it has provided more than $777 million to global TB control programs. The United States is a leading donor to the Global TB Drug Facility to expand access to, and availability of, high-quality anti-TB drugs, providing nearly $15 million in 2008. More than 450,000 patients will benefit from this life-saving assistance from the American people.
On World Tuberculosis Day, the United States renews its pledge to work with countries and the international community to successfully implement the Global Plan to Stop TB. The lives of millions of people across the globe depend on true international cooperation.
The writer is the US Ambassador to Bangladesh