Dushanbe, Tajikistan, February 26, 2016 – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Tuberculosis Control Program conducted a five-day workshop on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) ENGAGE-TB approach to integrate community-based tuberculosis (TB) activities into the work of non-governmental and civil society organizations. The training promotes community-based TB activities, expansion of TB services through civil society, and integration with other development sectors. As a result of the training, non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations will be able to better implement this approach in collaboration with each other and with the National TB Control Program. Upon conclusion of the training, participants will form a working group to develop the new, national Community Engagement Plan 2016-2020 for Tajikistan, which will replace the former National Advocacy, Communication, and Social Mobilization Plan 2010-2015.

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 7, 2016 - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced two new partnerships today to add resources and cutting-edge technologies to fight drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). Janssen, the pharmaceutical arm of Johnson & Johnson, announced a $15-20 million pledge as part of a new partnership with USAID to combat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). USAID will also partner with Cepheid, a maker of molecular systems and tests, to speed diagnosis of MDR-TB through increased access to rapid, accurate diagnostic tools.

Patients in Georgia suffering from deadly strains of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) will soon have access to potentially life-saving medication thanks to a collaboration between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Janssen. Nearly 200 patients in Georgia will begin receiving the tuberculosis drug, SIRTURO® (bedaquiline), as part of their treatment program for MDR-TB. Georgia is classified as a high MDR-TB burden country with 48 percent of known TB cases being identified as multidrug-resistant.

Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) released its annual report to Congress on U.S. Government (USG) international foreign assistance for tuberculosis (TB) control.