Program will collaborate across TB priority countries to build accessible, equitable and inclusive systems in support of ending the tuberculosis epidemic
FHI 360 will support the implementation of USAID’s new Global Resilience Against Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (GRAD-TB) program, which will improve detection, treatment and prevention of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) through specialized technical assistance to governments and local partners.
“In order to reach our targets for TB elimination, it has become clear that we need better ways of dealing with drug-resistant strains of TB,” says KJ Seung, GRAD-TB project director at FHI 360. “We look forward to working with USAID to ensure that all people have access to diagnostics and treatment as well as the ability to prevent drug-resistant TB.”
While management of DR-TB has greatly improved over the past 10 years, access to quality care remains severely limited. GRAD-TB will take a tailored, country-specific approach to ensure people with DR-TB have access to quality DR-TB services in 24 USAID-designated priority countries and 32 countries with Global Fund TB grants.
GRAD-TB will bolster the quality of government DR-TB programs, increase the ability of health care systems to effectively support people who need it, and improve data collection and sharing. This will be accomplished by collaborating with governments and partners, including local organizations and the private sector.
The consortium partners are Partners in Health (PIH), Interactive Research and Development (IRD), Treatment Action Group (TAG), Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) and Viamo.
FHI 360’s work in TB spans 30 countries, with over 120 staff members dedicated to ending the global epidemic. Activities include reaching and curing all people with TB, preventing TB disease in those with a higher likelihood of exposure, innovating to accelerate progress, and sustaining efforts through systems strengthening approaches.
To learn more about FHI 360’s work in tuberculosis, visit fhi360.org/expertise/tuberculosis/.