Stop TB Partnership’s innovative grants mechanism TB REACH will fund 42 projects in 28 countries with USD17 million (42% of the grants are from Africa, 35% from Asia, 7% in Eastern Europe/Central Asia, 5% in Latin America and 10% comprise multi-country grants). These grants will fund cutting-edge interventions in TB case finding and care and will improve diagnosis, treatment and support for people with TB.
Projects funded under Wave 6 will support near-field communication technology to improve medical record tracking, introduction of new preventive treatment regimens in multiple countries, and a number of private sector engagement strategies in Africa, where they have been scarce so far. Selected grantees are expected to introduce interventions aimed at identifying early hearing loss and life-threatening arrhythmias in drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) patients and facilitate a timely switch to new drugs. TB REACH will also support activities in Zero TB Cities across Asia and Africa, and the expanded use of digital technologies to improve adherence to TB treatment.
“The diversity of this year’s grants is outstanding and shows that so many fresh and innovative ideas are out there – and it is time for the TB community to become more forward-looking and think out of the box. We are grateful to our donors and partners for their efforts and we hope that the grants will deliver the expected results,” said Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership.
TB REACH continues to complement the investments of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, with the Wave 6 portfolio supporting projects in many countries included in the joint Strategic Initiative to Find an Additional 1.5 Million Missing People with TB. The Wave 6 announcement completes a process that started with 570 initial applications requesting more than USD200 million. The selected grants aim to provide support for case finding and treatment for over 80 million people globally. Activities are planned to begin in September 2018.
“There are always more great proposals than funds available which makes the job of the independent Selection Committee so difficult. At the same time, we are so excited to learn and document the challenges and successes of the new projects funded and, most of all, reach more people with TB and ensure they benefit from the best care available,” said Dr. Jacob Creswell, who leads the TB REACH initiative.
TB REACH is funded by Global Affairs Canada. Additional financing is provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Indonesian Health Fund.
TB REACH evaluates and finances innovative projects designed to improve detection and treatment of TB. Since its inception in 2010, TB REACH has awarded USD127 million in grants to 222 projects in 51 countries worldwide.
For more information on TB REACH, please visit our website.