Government of Canada Announces Funding to Fight Tuberculosis

Ottawa (Ontario) – On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, today announced additional funding for three programs aimed at helping fight tuberculosis around the world.“Our government has a comprehensive, long-term approach in the global fight against tuberculosis and Canadians can be proud that our country continues to be an international leader,” said Minister Oda. “We have achieved significant results, as Canada has already contributed to the successful treatment of more than four million tuberculosis sufferers and saved over half a million lives.”

o The Reach Facility Accelerated Case Detection Program will become a main component of Canada’s efforts to accelerate case detection and treatment for vulnerable and marginalized people.
o The Capacity Building for Tuberculosis Control Program will implement a range of activities including health staff training, involving private practitioners in tuberculosis control, laboratories, and improvements to the drug supply.
o Support for the World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Control Program will be used to implement a strategy to enhance diagnosis in urban hospitals; initiate activities to diagnose close contacts of patients (e.g. household members); and measure the impact of both on treatment rates and outcomes.

“This is part of our plan to ensure that Canada’s aid is focused on cost-effective and high impact programs that get results,” Minister Oda said. “These initiatives will make a real difference in countries in with a high tuberculosis burden, which currently offer only limited access to services.”

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Information:

Michelle Coates
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
Telephone: (819) 953-6238

Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: 819-953-6534
E-mail: media@acdi-cida.gc.ca

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Backgrounder

New Funding to Fight Tuberculosis

March 24, 2009

March 24 is World Tuberculosis Day, the Government of Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency, is proud to play a vital role in the battle against TB.

The funding announced today will support the following three programs:

1. TB Reach Facility – Accelerated Case Detection — $100 million (2009–2014)

The TB Reach Facility Accelerated Case Detection Program will be managed by the Stop Tuberculosis Partnership and will address urgent needs, gaps and bottlenecks in TB control. The program will work through the partners of the Stop Tuberculosis Partnership in support of local initiatives in consultation and collaboration with National TB Control Programs. This program will provide opportunities for Stop Tuberculosis partners to implement new and innovative, or tried-and-tested solutions in for tuberculosis prevention, care, treatment and support in areas that are currently under-serviced.

2. Capacity Building for TB Control Program — $20 million (2009–2012)

The Capacity Building for TB Control Program will implement a range of activities including health staff training (e.g., training health workers to identify TB cases; training laboratory technicians to recognize TB baccilli); involving private practitioners in TB control (e.g., instituting a referral system for traditional healers to the nearest TB centre); rehabilitating TB laboratories (e.g., replacing non-functioning microscopes); and improving TB drug supply (e.g., ensuring drug management and logistics are well functioning). The program will be managed by the Stop Tuberculosis Partnership and will be implemented through the National TB Programs in developing countries and through partners of the Stop Tuberculosis Partnership.

3. WHO Global TB Control Program — $7.4 million (2009–2012)

The WHO Global TB Control Program will focus on enhancing tuberculosis control in urban hospitals. Specifically, the program will: (1) implement a strategy to enhance diagnosis of people; (2) initiate activities to diagnose close contacts of TB patients (e.g. household members) in urban areas; and (3) measure the impact of both strategies on treatment rates and treatment outcomes. These activities are based on identified gaps in current TB control efforts.

This new funding comes in addition to Canada’s contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria towards which Canada has pledged $978.4 million to date of which 14% has been allocated to tuberculosis control.

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