Operational research to help fight multi-drug resistant TB

The World Health Organisation and Global Fund to Fight AIDS have signed a new agreement designed to implement 10 initiatives to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics and strengthen systems for health.

The agreement aims to address persistent challenges that are impeding progress against the three diseases.

The partnership plans to use operational research to help drug resistant TB treatment.

The new strategic initiatives are:

1. Expand TB preventive treatment for people living with HIV in 9 countries across Africa;
2. Strengthen efforts to provide differentiated HIV service delivery;
3. Accelerate efforts to find people with TB missed by health systems in 20 countries;
4. Accelerate the introduction of innovation for multi-drug resistant TB treatment through regional operational research in Eastern and Central Europe;
5. Support 26 countries and territories to eliminate malaria by 2025;
6. Improve country data collection and use to develop evidence-informed policy;
7. Foster the rapid uptake of service delivery innovations with South to South Learning;
8. Improve the quality of care;
9. Encourage rapid uptake of procurement and supply chain management innovation; and
10. Increase program sustainability, facilitate the transition to domestic financing and improve program efficiency.

Dr Mubashar Sheikh, Director, Deputy Director-General’s Office, WHO said: “The COVID-19 pandemic, more than ever, reinforces the need to strengthen our partnership to achieve our shared goals of ending the epidemics. This agreement supports countries to develop more effective responses to the HIV, tuberculosis and malaria epidemics and build the resilient health systems they need to reach the most vulnerable.”

Michael Byrne, Head of Technical Advice and Partnerships at the Global Fund, said: “Together, WHO and the Global Fund have proven to be a powerful force that builds on strong in-country support and regional presence, technical leadership and financial resources to strengthen systems for health and accelerate the end of AIDS, TB and malaria as epidemics. This new agreement will help overcome the multiple challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, safeguard and expand HIV, TB and malaria programs.”

Find out more at:  https://bit.ly/2VBUhad