5 May 2010 - Geneva/Hanoi, Viet Nam - The Stop TB Partnership's TB REACH initiative today announced the recipients of its first wave of grants to organizations that will engage in innovative approaches to increasing detection of tuberculosis (TB).
Thirty applicants from 19 countries will together receive US$ 18.4 million to engage in activities of one year's duration. Individual grants range from US$ 150 000 to US$ 1 000 000. The programme is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency.
TB REACH is aimed at increasing case detection of infectious TB as early as possible and ensuring timely treatment, while maintaining high cure rates within DOTS programmes. It seeks to encourage development and application of innovative and ground-breaking techniques, interventions, approaches and activities that result in detecting the undetected TB cases, leading to a reduced rate of transmission and preventing the emergence of drug-resistant forms of TB. The initiative, which focuses on reaching people from eligible countries who currently have limited or no access to TB services, launched a call for proposals in January that prompted 192 applications.
"Today some three million people a year are not accessing high-quality TB treatment. With the support of the Canadian Government, for which we are very grateful, the Stop TB Partnership is making an important step towards filling that gap. The organizations funded through TB REACH will serve as pathfinders as we develop new ways to reach all the people who need TB treatment, no matter who they are or where they live," said Dr Marcos Espinal, Executive Secretary of the Stop TB Partnership.
Selections were made by a Proposal Review Committee [.pdf] in March and approved by the Stop TB Partnership Coordinating Board today in Hanoi.
The 19 countries with successful applicants have per capita Gross National Income less than US$ 1200. Eighteen of the 30 recipients are located in countries of the WHO African Region. Seven of the recipients are national tuberculosis programmes, three are other types of government agencies and the remaining 20 are nongovernmental organizations.
To access the list of successful applicants, click here.