Speeches
Speech by Vincent D. Spera,
Economic and Commercial Chief
U.S. Embassy, Ulaanbaatar
WORLD TB DAY
MARCH 24, 2009
Good afternoon. Dear ladies and gentlemen,
Today, the Government of the United States joins the Government of Mongolia and international and local partners in commemorating World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. On behalf of the U.S. Embassy, I would like to welcome you to and thank you for attending this event. We firmly believe that increased awareness of the risks and dangers of this disease will help ensure a healthier future for everyone.
As my colleague has just demonstrated, TB remains a major global health problem, with nearly nine million new cases and more than 1.7 million deaths each year. With HIV/AIDS claiming over two million lives each year, and malaria killing more than one million, TB is one of the three leading causes of deaths worldwide due to an infectious disease.
The United States is on the frontlines of the battle against TB. In collaboration with national TB programs, our government works to improve the quality of basic TB programs and TB-related services; upgrade laboratory infrastructure; build a foundation to introduce new diagnostic technologies; and work with the World Health Organization and other partners to conduct drug resistance surveys and surveillance. This is an opportunity to showcase USG contributions to global health and scientific progress.
Our U.S. Agency for International Development plays a leading role in international TB control programs, supporting 40 countries. The Centers for Disease Control of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also provides critical technical support to global and country level initiatives. In addition, the National Institutes of Health is engaged in basic investigations and international clinical research studies related to TB. Coordination and collaboration among these agencies is extensive and very effective in both the domestic and global spheres.
Recent actions also demonstrate continuing U.S. commitment to fighting TB and other diseases. For example, just last summer, under the leadership of Congressmen Tom Lantos and Henry Hyde, the United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act was signed into law. This Act authorized up to $48 billion over the next five years to combat global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
The Act will only build on other global efforts to date. The U.S. is already the largest single-country bilateral donor for TB, providing more $777 million for global TB programs since 1998. The U.S. is also a leading donor to the Global TB Drug Facility, which expands availability and access for high-quality TB drugs. In FY 2008 alone, through USAID, we provided nearly $15 million to this facility, which serves as an important financing mechanism that provides drugs to countries in need.
Of course, I must also mention strong and continuing support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. The US government is the largest single donor to the GF, with pledges reaching $3.3 billion since 2002. Seventeen percent of support for the Global Fund has been dedicated to TB work. The Fund has approved almost $1.71 billion for grants in 91 countries, and Fund investments have provided 3.9 million people with treatment for TB.
Mongolia is benefitting directly from this effort. Through the leadership of the Ministry of Health, Global Fund projects have been implemented in Mongolia since 2003. At the moment there are two onging projects on HIV/AIDS and two on TB. Through these projects, Mongolia has provided – for free – first and second line TB medicines to the needy patients. Second line TB medicines in particular are very expensive, around USD 200 for one course of treatment.
These efforts, and the work of many of our friends and partners around the world, are making a difference. According to the WHO’s new 2009 Global Tuberculosis Control Report, TB prevalence and death rates are falling globally, and detection of new cases and access to treatments is rising. But we must continue to work together actively and aggressively to meet new challenges, such as multi-drug resistant TB and rising treatment costs.
Let me assure you today, World TB Day, that the U.S. renews its pledge to work with all of our partners to continue to fight TB.
Thank you for your attention.