International Federation-Lilly Agreement Will Allow Significant Increase in MDR-TB Programmes
29 November 2007 - 9:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
GENEVA, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Eli Lilly
and Company, a multi- national pharmaceutical company, signed an
agreement which will allow an eight-fold increase in the number of
International Federation-supported programmes to fight
multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) over the next four years.
Lilly's 1.6 million USD contribution will finance programmes
between 2008 and 2011. In 2008 alone, the International Federation
will expand its support to 10 additional MDR-TB programmes in
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Romania, Georgia, Kenya, Mozambique and
South Africa, for a total of 14 MDR-TB programmes. "It is vital
that tuberculosis patients complete their treatment, both to be
cured, and to avoid a relapse into the more serious form of the
disease, called multidrug-resistant TB, which is much more
expensive and difficult to treat," explains Markku Niskala,
secretary general of the International Federation. "We have noticed
an increase of MDR-TB in certain regions, and it is essential we
expand our programmes to help curb this trend. The Lilly funds will
allow us to do that." The first phase of the International
Federation and Lilly MDR-TB Programme was implemented from 2004 to
2007 in three pilot countries. "Based on the success of the current
programmes in Kazakhstan, Romania and Uzbekistan, we embrace the
challenge of expanding this programme to cover more than ten
countries," says Sidney Taurel, chairman and CEO of Lilly. "These
activities join those of a larger partnership of 14 public and
private organisations around the world committed to fighting MDR-TB
from every angle. We will continue to learn lessons from existing
programmes and improve our initiatives to best serve those
suffering from MDR-TB, and to best prevent its spread. We are
committed, for the long-term, to triumph over the re-emergence of
TB and MDR-TB." Red Cross and Red Crescent TB programmes include
providing patients with care, food and support, educating the
community about the spread and symptoms of tuberculosis, detecting
new cases through surveillance, and addressing the stigma
associated with the disease. In addition, cured patients are often
recruited as Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and provide
invaluable psychological support to current patients. According to
the World Health Organisation (WHO), community-based TB care
significantly improves both access to services and adherence to
treatment. The WHO global TB control report for 2007 confirms
progress has been made in recent years to control the TB pandemic,
which kills 1.6 million people each year. But much more needs to be
done. The European region, for example, has the highest level of TB
treatment failures, and as a result, 15 percent of all new TB cases
in the Baltic States, Eastern Europe and Central Asia are
multidrug-resistant, a rate that is three times higher than in any
other region in the world. Currently, Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies in more than 20 countries address the needs of some
20,000 clients with TB and MDR-TB among the most vulnerable and
marginalised groups in society - including the very poor, the
homeless, the elderly, prisoners, and substance abusers. Many are
also HIV- positive, and because of their weakened immune system,
are at particular risk of dying from TB. To address this situation,
many Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are integrating their TB
and HIV programmes, particularly in Asia (such as Myanmar) and in
Africa (such as Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe). The
International Federation is an active partner in the Global Stop TB
Partnership, whose aim is to decrease the prevalence and death
rates of TB by 50 per cent by 2015. (*) Tuberculosis is a very
contagious disease, which spreads through the air. If not treated,
every person with active TB infects, on average, 10 to 15 people
each year. The Federation, the national Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together
constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
For further information on Federation activities, please see our
web site: http://www.ifrc.org/ The Lilly MDR-TB Partnership is a
public-private initiative led by Eli Lilly and Company to address
the expanding crisis of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB)
together with global health and relief organisations, academic
institutions and private companies. Lilly has launched a
multifaceted philanthropic programme to address MDR-TB. The
Partnership is pursuing a comprehensive strategy to fight MDR-TB
through increasing drug supply and discounting prices, conducting
research, providing support for communities and training in
prevention, treatment, and surveillance, and sharing drug
manufacturing technology with nations most at risk. For further
information on the Lilly MDR-TB Partnership, please go to
http://www.lillymdr-tb.com/ C-LLY (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO )
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company
CONTACT: For further information, or to set up interviews (ISDN
line available in Geneva), contact, International Federation,
Marie-Francoise Borel, Information Officer, +41 22 730 43 46, +41
79 217 33 45, Federation media duty phone, +41 79 416 38 81; or Eli
Lilly and Company, Patrizia Carlevaro, Head of International Aid
Unit, +41 22 306 03 94, +41 79 418 05 57, or Lauren Cislak,
Corporate Communications, +1-317-655-0453
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