Global Fund pumps US$2.1M into TB programme

TIMES INT'L

The Health Ministry and Global Fund signed the Global Fund Tuberculosis Phase 2 grant on Friday, which will see US$2.1 million being released to the National TB Programme to fight the illness.
The agreement was signed by Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Leslie Cadogan and Global Fund Regional Manager for Latin American and Caribbean Countries, Silvio Martinelli.

The agreement being signed by Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Leslie Cadogan and Regional Manager for Latin American and Caribbean Countries Silvio Martinelli, as TB Programme Manager Dr Jeetendra Mohanlall observes
The agreement being signed by Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Leslie Cadogan and Regional Manager for Latin American and Caribbean Countries Silvio Martinelli, as TB Programme Manager Dr Jeetendra Mohanlall observes

Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran highlighted that during this phase, several strategies will be reinforced to address TB.
“These include the management of the HIV co-infected patients, expansion of the Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) programme and promoting community DOTS in correctional facilities.”
Human resources in the central unit of the National TB programme will also be strengthened and the regional programme for enhanced public sensitisation on TB developed and implemented. The health minister noted that as a result of the ministry partnering with several organisations, including Global Fund, significant gains have been made.
“More specifically, the new TB cases based on DOTS increased significantly from 75 per cent in 2005 to 90 per cent in 2012 and the mortality rate has generally declined from 13 deaths per 100,000 population in 2005…to nine deaths per 100,000 of new cases in 2012, ” Dr Ramsaran explained.
He stated that owing to the increased emphasis on improved case detection, the incidence/detection rate of TB has steadily increased from 87 in 2005 to 96 in 2012. In the prison system over the past several months, there have been no recorded cases of TB. Currently, there are 18 TB sites located across the 10 administrative regions.
The Global Fund regional manager for Latin American and Caribbean countries noted that there is a need for new medicines and more resources around the world. He highlighted that the aim is to get the incidence rate down to below five per cent by the end of the grant period.
“TB and HIV are very good friends and together they are deadly, hence, the intention is to break the alliance and treat both diseases properly,” he said.

Related posts