Tuberculosis

36 Million Cured of TB

Dec 18th, 2009 4:20 PM UTC
By Rena Pacheco-Theard

The 2009 WHO Global Tuberculosis Update was launched earlier this month, providing the latest information on the state of the epidemic around the world. The report shows that in the last 15 years, 36 million people have been cured of tuberculosis, and eight million cases have been prevented. This progress attests to the effectiveness of the Stop TB Strategy and DOTS in the fight against tuberculosis.

During the latest 12-month reporting period, 2.3 million infectious patients were cured, more than ever before in that time frame. Still, not enough people are accessing the treatment they need, and about 1.8 million people died of tuberculosis in 2008.

There were an estimated 9.27 million incident cases of TB in 2007 (of which, 15% percent were among individuals who were also HIV-positive), a slight increase from 9.24 million in 2006. However, while the total number of TB cases is up due to population growth, the number of cases per capita is actually down 1%.

The report shows further progress in addressing the deadly combination of TB and HIV. TB remains the leading cause of death for those with HIV, but testing TB patients for HIV is on the rise, and more patients are receiving appropriate treatment.

The report also notes that there has been little progress in stopping multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), an even more dangerous and resistant to treatment form of TB.

To learn more, you can read the full report, as well as the WHO’s press release.

Progress in search of a cure for TB?

Apr 10th, 2009 1:16 PM UTC
By Rena Pacheco-Theard

Here’s a little good news for your Friday: two FDA-approved drugs were found to block the growth of certain strains of extremely drug resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB). While this chance discovery occurred in the lab, clinical trials on humans are now being planned in South Korea and South Africa.

Excerpts below, full article here

Scientists have reported their breakthrough in the latest issue of the ‘Science’ journal. Speaking to TOI, Dr John Blanchard, professor of biochemistry at Einstein and senior author of the paper, said that in the lab, scientists successfully killed all XDR TB bacteria in less than two weeks time.

Dr Blanchard said, “The entire discovery happened by chance. We didn’t set out to see whether these two drugs, alone or in combination, fought TB. Now, after three years of lab research, Clavulanate was found to be highly effective in inhibiting the crucial enzyme that shields TB bacteria while Meropenem was highly effective in killing the TB organism completely.”

He added, “Normally, it takes two years of continuous therapy to treat drug resistant TB strains. If this combination works in humans, we will be able to completely eliminate the organism within two weeks time.”

-Rena Pacheco-Theard

Highlights from Caceres: Mid-term Review of the Global Fund

Apr 8th, 2009 1:19 PM UTC
By Lisa.Fleisher

We noted last week that donors met in Spain from March 31 to April 1 to review the progress and funding needs of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Here are some highlights from the communiqué.

Results show the Global Fund is having a significant impact: Michel Kazatchkine, the Global Fund’s Executive Director said that the Global Fund “is affecting the course of these three epidemics.” With commitments reaching $15 billion since inception in 2002, the Global Fund has provided support for more than 600 programs in 140 countries. The Minister of Health from Nigeria, the Honorable Babatunde Osotimehin, presented findings on Nigeria’s malaria prevention and control efforts, including contributions from the Global Fund of 4 million long-lasting insecticide treated nets and 18 million doses of ACTs. Burkina Faso’s Minister of Health, the Honorable Seydou Bouda, described many gains in malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS supported by the Global Fund, including 1.2 million children under five receiving ACTs, among others. (Stay tuned for more on Global Fund results coming later this week!)

Donors agreed that with the growth of Global Fund programs, long-term sustainability becomes even more important. Increased domestic financing for health from Global Fund recipients was one area emphasized as a way to improve sustainability. Nigeria and Burkina Faso both pledged full commitment to this. On the Global Fund side, participants asked that cost effectiveness and efficiency opportunities be pursued so that results can be maximized with available funding.

Demand for funding has increased so much that the Global Fund now estimates there is a $4 billion gap between resources currently available and those needed to meet the $13.5 billion demand from countries for 2008-2010. With what is currently available, Round 8 could be fully funded, but there is only $0.9 billion for Round 9 and subsequent rounds. The Global Fund Board will begin approving new grants in November of this year, so there is an urgent need for donors to address the funding gap. Spain has already shown its commitment, and was congratulated for increasing its contribution to $213 million. Other donors confirmed that that they expect to meet the commitments made in Berlin 2007. ONE is hoping they will in fact follow through on their commitments so the Global Fund can continue to support countries in their efforts to fight AIDS, TB, and malaria.

-Lisa Fleisher

Meeting at the Global Health Council

Feb 23rd, 2009 12:06 PM UTC
By Ian McGroarty

ONE rubbed elbows with some of its many partners Friday at the Global Health Council’s community meeting with Dr. Christoph Benn, the Director of Partnerships, Communication and Resource Mobilization at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (a very lengthy title with an even longer list of responsibilities). The Global Fund is a partnership of many organizations created to increase and disburse performance-based grants to fight HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria, and it has helped drastically improve global health since its inception seven years ago. Nevertheless, many challenges remain. I had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Benn after the presentation, and he gladly accepted a ONE band to show his support.

Dr. Benn was proud to announce that HIV/AIDS treatment has expanded; however, prevention remains the dominant challenge. TB poses its own obstacles due to its extreme drug resistance and its complex/ expensive treatment. However, the Global Fund is beginning to see a decline in infection in Asia, though progress in Africa is slower. This may be in relation to the high prevalence of HIV in Africa; in effect weakening people’s immune systems and making them more susceptible to TB. Child mortality due to Malaria decreased 50- 70% in some countries thanks to mosquito net disbursement and increased access to affordable treatment and disease control mechanisms. We are making progress, and looking to the future, it is no secret that we are accelerating.

The demand for Global Fund grants is increasing at unprecedented levels, but with the global economic downturn tightening public budgets, the Fund is now facing critical funding gaps. As ONE members, will need to get out and make their voices heard!

-Ian McGroarty

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy announced new Global Fund spokesperson

Dec 1st, 2008 10:11 AM UTC
By Josh Lozman

Today, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced a new global spokesperson. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, whose husband President Nicolas Sarkozy is the President of France, has agreed to use her influence and voice to support the important work of the Global Fund. France is currently the second largest contributor to the Global Fund, behind the United States.

Since its inception in 2002, the Global Fund has become the largest player in the fight against malaria and one of the largest in the fight against AIDS. It announced today that it has helped to support putting 2 million people across the world on life saving anti-retroviral therapy – a 43% increase over just last year.

The Global Fund’s financing needs are increasing rapidly as countries afflicted by AIDS, Tb and malaria are quickly developing qualified proposals to the fund that are outpacing incoming donor pledges. The role of global ambassadors like Carla Bruni-Sarkozy will be critical for the Global Fund to continue to provide the financing needed to fight these three killer diseases.

You can read the Global Fund’s press release on this new development here.

-Josh Lozman

The 2008 G8 Summit: Outcomes for Africa

Jul 10th, 2008 10:42 AM UTC
By Ben Hubbard

African development was again the subject of G8 discussions as world leaders gathered in Toyako, Hokkaido in northern Japan from July 7-9 for the 2008 G8 Summit. While the G8 was confronted with multiple global challenges, including climate change and a weakening global economy, the 2008 Hokkaido Summit marked an important “mid point” moment in the fight against poverty. The Hokkaido Summit came at the critical halfway point to both the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the G8 Gleneagles promises to Africa. The G8 are dangerously behind on their landmark commitments to the region, having delivered only $3 billion of the promised $25 billion in additional assistance to Africa by 2010, according to the 2008 DATA Report.

After difficult negotiations, the G8 summit yielded small gains for the poorest. The bulk of G8 agreements on development and Africa and food security reiterated previous pledges rather than outlining new measures to get the group back on track. The G8 did announce plans for a new effort to tackle the global food crisis, though more details are needed to ensure its effectiveness and delivery. They highlighted the UN High-level meeting on the MDGs in September as an important opportunity to review progress and identify actions needed to overcome remaining challenges.

At a time when G8 credibility is at risk due to slow progress in delivering on commitments, there was a strong call for greater accountability in the G8 Communique. The G8 agreed to track progress against previous commitments in health, education, water and agriculture, as well as its compliance with anti-corruption measures.

Overall, the US, UK and Germany provided strong leadership in negotiations and have significantly increased their funding for Africa in recent years.

After the jump, the following brief overview of outcomes for Africa from the 2008 G8 Summit.

-Ben Hubbard

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