Ambassador Mark Dybul’s Statement on World TB Day 2008

Washington, DC – The following is a statement from Ambassador Mark Dybul, Coordinator of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR):

“Today, on World TB Day 2008, we acknowledge the contributions of people worldwide to the fight against tuberculosis. TB is the number one killer of people living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, which is why PEPFAR is leading a unified U.S. Government global response to fully integrate HIV and TB services through partnerships with host nations. These partnerships support national health authorities, non-governmental organizations, and community- and faith-based organizations to strengthen and implement effective TB/HIV programs.

“By the end of September 2007, PEPFAR had supported care for more than 367,000 TB/HIV co-infected people in the 15 PEPFAR focus countries. PEPFAR increased its funding from $26 million in fiscal year 2005 to a planned level of $150 million for fiscal year 2008.

“As part of this effort, PEPFAR supports HIV testing for people with TB, and TB screening, diagnosis, and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS. Other steps being taken include improving TB infection control to prevent TB transmission. PEPFAR is supporting activities to address multi-drug resistant and extensively-drug resistant TB for TB/HIV patients, including rapid TB diagnosis and treatment and strengthening of laboratory capacity.

“In addition, we have strengthened collaboration with our multilateral partners, including the World Health Organization and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Such collaboration is essential for mounting an effective response.

“It is a clear priority of PEPFAR to increase cooperation and effective linkages between TB and HIV programs. In partnership with host nations and the international community, PEPFAR has taken substantial steps toward combating global TB/HIV and drug resistant TB, and we will continue to do so.”

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) employs the most diverse prevention, treatment and care strategy in the world, with an emphasis on transparency and accountability for results. The goals of the Emergency Plan’s first five years include support for treatment for two million HIV-infected people, support for prevention of seven million new infections, and support for care for 10 million people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.

For more information about PEPFAR’s efforts to address TB/HIV, please visit http://www.pepfar.gov/pepfar/press/81964.htm.