The live webcast on the U.S. government’s strategy for combating the global TB epidemic will start in approximately 30 minutes. You can watch and participate here.

Here’s a note from the Kaiser Family Foundation, who’s hosting the broadcast:

TB is preventable and curable, but today remains one of the world’s major causes of illness and death. Most of those affected are in developing countries, particularly those in Asia and Africa. The U.S. stepped up its efforts to address TB in the late 1990s, and funding has increased – rising from $87 million in fiscal year 2004 to $175 million in 2009. Now is a particularly important time to look at the U.S. role in combating TB moving forward. The Administration is currently planning a broad, new Global Health Initiative, which will focus on integration and coordination of the U.S. global health portfolio and Congress, through PEPFAR Reauthorization, has mandated the development of 5-year TB strategy. Both these processes are underway.

Today at 1 p.m. ET, the Kaiser Family Foundation, as part of its In Focus series, will hold a live, interactive webcast with experts to discuss the status of the TB strategy, how it fits into the overall global health initiative, and key challenges on the horizon. In addition to featuring Cheri Vincent from USAID and Dr. Christine Sizemore from NIH, we’ll hear from Christine Lubinski of the Center for Global Health Policy and Dr. Robin Wood from the University of Cape Town about his experience on the ground in South Africa. Full details about the event are here: .

Email questions to us now or during the live webcast at infocus@kff.org.

-Jen Kates, The Kaiser Family Foundation