U.S. Reaffirms Commitment to Fight Tuberculosis Worldwide

March 24, 2004

NEW DELHI -  The United States today reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the global burden of tuberculosis in close collaboration with developing country, regional, and global partners.

In New Delhi to attend the March 24-26 Stop TB Partner's Forum meet, Dr. E. Anne Peterson, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Global Health with the U.S. Agency for International Development said: "Despite the effectiveness of DOTS (directly observed treatment short-course), TB has spread, due to the fragility of public health systems, lack of complete access to DOTS, and the exploding HIV/AIDS epidemic." Dr. Peterson said TB has developed new virulent strains resistant to previously effective drugs in some countries. "Today, USAID reaffirms its commitment to addressing the global burden of TB in close collaboration with developing country, regional, and global partners," she said.

USAID has increased its funding from $10 million five year ago to $75 million this year as part of massive international efforts to fight this curable disease. Eight million new TB cases occur, and two million people die of the disease each year. Nearly a third of the World's population is infected with "latent" TB, that could develop into active TB disease during their lifetime. Asia and Africa contain 80 percent of all TB cases. Poverty and weak healthcare systems in developing countries are the main reasons for the rise of TB. As TB most commonly affects people between the age of 15 and 54, death and lost productivity due to TB pose a serious development problem.

In 1998, the increase in TB cases led international health agencies to unite their efforts under the global Stop TB Partnership, which now has more than 200 members. USAID, which was a founding member of the Partnership, fights TB in 34 countries, 17 of which are among the 22 nations with the most severe epidemics of the disease. India , China , Indonesia , Bangladesh , Nigeria , Pakistan and South Africa are among the 22 countries that contribute 80 % of the global burden of TB.

India is a great example of how political will and commitment and leadership from the Government of India in union with key partners can make a difference. Direct support for DOTS implementation in Haryana achieved a treatment success and case detection rate of 83 percent and 64 percent respectively in 2002. Full coverage of its 22 million population will be achieved by the end of the year. Nationwide, DOTS coverage has increased from 50 percent in 2002 to 65 percent in 2003 with full national coverage targeted by 2005.

The most important element of USAID's strategy to fight TB is the expansion and strengthening of DOTS programs. DOTS, which is recommended by the World Health Organization, identifies tuberculosis patients, provides them with drugs, and ensures uninterrupted supply of the drugs until the patient is cured.

USAID shares the objective of the STOP TB Partnership, which is to detect 70 percent of TB cases and to successfully treat 85 percent of them. Achievement of these targets will be necessary to slow and control the spread of TB. The Agency is training health care workers in the public and private sector, and NGOs to fight TB, while investing in the development of new diagnostics and treatment regimens.

Click here to see photographs of Anne Peterson, USAID Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of Global Health, in India . (This is a link to USAID Washington's website).