Following the GDF Technical Review Committee (TRC) meeting on 14–15 March, five countries have been recommended to receive support from the GDF - subject to fulfilment of certain conditions. These are: the Republic of Moldova; Tajikistan; Kenya; Somalia; and Myanmar. Country missions during the next few months will ensure that the conditions for support from the GDF are clear to the respective governments. Specifically, the country missions will brief governments and stakeholders on the role of the GDF; explain the implications of a GDF grant; confirm fulfilment of the conditions for GDF support; verify information provided in the application form and clarify information where necessary; and assist countries to fulfil conditions of support, including development of an action plan.

For further information please contact the Stop TB Partnership Secretariat at stoptbinfo@who.int.

• Stop TB (interim) Coordinating Board

To consolidate the rapid progress made since the Bellagio meeting in February, a teleconference for members of the Stop TB Coordinating Board will take place on Thursday 26 April from 2 to 4 pm Central European Time. Four items will be discussed: (1) GDF: recommendations of the TRC; the status of negotiations for the Memorandum of Understanding between WHO and the Board; and the development of a sub-group of the Board to oversee the operations of the GDF; (2) Stop TB Framework: development of the terms of reference for the working groups, the Advocacy and Financing Task Force(s), and of the mechanisms for nominating Board members; (3) Stop TB Partners' Forum; (4) Stop TB Strategic Plan.

For further information please contact the Stop TB Partnership Secretariat at stoptbinfo@who.int.

• Staff Secondments

The Stop TB Partnership Secretariat continues to seek support from partners for staff secondments in order to operationalize the "Amsterdam Declaration to Stop TB". Please contact the Stop TB Partnership Secretariat at stoptbinfo@who.int for further information.

• WORKING GROUPS

DOTS Expansion

The Global DOTS Expansion Plan (GDEP) will be launched during the Fifty-fourth World Health Assembly on 14–22 May 2001. Preparations on communications and press activities are ongoing for a press briefing. Just one year after Resolution WHA53.1 encouraged Member States to endorse the Amsterdam Declaration to Stop Tuberculosis and increase political commitment and the resources necessary to reach global targets for TB control by 2005, the GDEP provides the first assessment of the resources necessary to expand DOTS coverage in the 22 countries with the highest burden of TB.

TB/HIV

The first meeting of the global Working Group on TB/HIV was held on 9–11 April in Geneva. The goal of the Working Group is to reduce the burden of TB in high HIV prevalence populations. The meeting was well-attended by technical experts and representatives from collaborating agencies. It examined new technical and policy strategies required to maximize synergies in supporting the provision by general health services of the full range of HIV and TB prevention and care interventions. Members of the working group are now finalizing the draft recommendations of the meeting. A report of the meeting is expected to be available in June 2001.

The Stop TB Communiqué is issued monthly by email to global partners in order to share information on progress in the global partnership movement to stop TB. Partners are invited to submit news items, progress updates, comments and suggestions to reynoldsk@who.org. Stop TB Partnership Secretariat, World Health Organization, 20 avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27. Visit the Stop TB website at www.stoptb.org. The site is sponsored by the American Lung Association www.lungusa.org. Stop TB is a partnership hosted by the World Health Organization www.who.int.