For two decades now, since 2004, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) have joined forces and collaborated closely to improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of tuberculosis (TB) care and prevention programs around the world, particularly in resource-limited countries.
The partnership has contributed to significant progress in developing and updating scientific and programmatic resources, disseminating best practices, building scientific and technical capacity, and bolstering the policies and practices of local and national TB programs globally.
Ultimately, CDC and The Union’s partnership aims to support resource-limited countries and communities to end the TB epidemic.
Dr Riitta Dlodlo, Senior Advisor at The Union, said: “Our longstanding collaboration with CDC has enhanced our ability to equip healthcare workers with the latest knowledge, helping them to deliver the best possible TB treatment and care to individuals and communities who need it most.
“The fact this partnership has continued for two decades is a testament to the valuable relationship that has been built and the great strides we have made together.”
There have been many significant achievements during this longstanding collaboration, including most recently:
- The establishment of a Regional Child and Adolescent TB Centre for Excellence (COE) in sub-Saharan Africa with the Ministries of Health in Cameroon, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This virtual network of child health experts provides a community of learning to share information and best practices on child and adolescent TB.
- The publication of Diagnostic CXR Atlas for Tuberculosis in Children: A Guide to Chest X-ray Interpretation to assist non-specialist healthcare workers in high TB-burden settings to interpret chest X-rays (CXRs) of children investigated for TB.
- The launch of the Adherence, Completion, Events for TB Preventive Treatment (ACE TPT) project in Uganda and Zimbabwe to evaluate how TB and TPT can be improved for children and people living with HIV. The results and lessons learned will help identify approaches to increase the initiation, adherence, and completion of the crucial treatment and improve data quality for decision-making.
- The Decentralize TB services and Engage Communities to Transform lives of Children with TB (DETECT Child TB) pilot project in Uganda, which improved finding children with TB, and subsequently adults with TB, improved treatment outcomes for paediatric TB and increased the uptake and completion of TB preventive treatment among the eligible contacts.
Dr Anand Date, CDC Global TB Branch Chief remarked: “The collaboration between CDC and The Union aims to strengthen TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, particularly in high-burden countries by leveraging data and research with a special attention on children and adolescents affected by TB. A significant emphasis on capacity building ensures that healthcare professionals receive essential training, which fosters innovative solutions to the challenges posed by TB.
“Together, the CDC and The Union strive to accelerate progress toward ending the TB epidemic and achieving health equity.”
Despite the accomplishments of this instrumental partnership, more efforts are needed to finally end the global TB epidemic. CDC and The Union will continue to work closely to support resource-limited settings and all countries in eliminating this preventable and curable infectious disease.
Over the next five years, the collaboration will focus on:
- Strengthening TB services for children and adolescents, through expanded capacity building and programmatic activities under the Centre of Excellence.
- Developing technical guidance and scientific publications aimed at strengthening knowledge and building the capacity of healthcare professionals implementing TB programmes.
- Supporting The Union World Conference on Lung Health to meet the changing needs of the global health and scientific community.