The Global Face of TB
Tuesday March 30, 2004
U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, DC
On World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, March 24th, the Global Health Council marked the occasion remembering the nearly 2 million people lost to the disease each year. Estimates show that approximately one-third of the world’s population is infected with the bacteria that causes TB and may develop the disease (active TB). Every year eight million individuals, mostly in low-and middle-income countries, become ill with active TB.
Today, antibiotic resistance, poor adherence to long treatments imposed by old medication, inadequate health systems and poverty render TB a major global health threat. The HIV pandemic has also changed the historic pattern of active TB progression for the worse. While among HIV-negative persons, only 5 - 10% of those infected with TB will ever develop the disease, HIV-positive persons have a 30% lifetime risk of developing active TB and a 10% annual risk. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly a third of the 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS today are co-infected with tuberculosis.
From March 24-26, 2004 ministerial delegations of the 22 highest TB burden countries as well as high-level political invitees convened in New Delhi, India for the Second Stop TB Partner’s Forum. The meeting highlighted progress at country level and the importance of private and civil sector involvement and discussed the future of TB.
The Global Health Council's briefing highlighted progress at country level and the importance of private and civil sector involvement and discussed the future of TB. It also examined the various factors contributing to the current challenges of TB: multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB), TB and HIV/AIDS co-infection etc. Using examples of current on-ground efforts to llustrate the extent of the current challenges, the briefing highlighted successful programs working to address tuberculosis.
SPEAKERS
The Global Health Council program featured distinguished speakers, including:
- Clydette Powell, MD, MPH, Moderator
Medical Officer, Bureau for Global Health,
U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID) - Joanne Carter
Legislative Director,
RESULTS - Lee Reichman, MD, MPH
Executive Director,
New Jersey Medical School National Tuberculosis Center; Professor of Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Community Health at New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey - Joelle Tanguy
Director, Advocacy & Public Affairs,
Global Alliance for TB Drug Development
EVENT CO-SPONSORS
American Thoracic Society
Global Health Council
Global Alliance for TB Drug Development
RESULTS
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)