One-third of the world’s population is infected with the germ that causes TB and nearly 9 million people become sick with active TB each year
TB killed roughly 1.7 million people in 2007 - more than any other curable infectious disease in the world (WHO)
India ranks number one on the list of TB high-burden countries: a list of 22 countries that together, account for 80% of cases
In Africa, more than 500,000 people die each year from TB. Africa is also the only continent where TB is on the rise, increasing by close to 5% each year driven by the HIV epidemic. TB is the leading cause of death among HIV‑positive patients in Africa
In 2006, the Global Plan to Stop TB began but despite serious progress worldwide in establishing the WHO recommended program of to find and treat TB cases, it is estimated that nearly 40% of TB patients are still not being reached with diagnostics or treatments
Low-income populations often lack access to health-care facilities and treatment and prevention options, which delays the diagnosis of TB by several weeks or months. Poor nutrition, crowded living conditions, poor ventilation, and lack of access to clean water and sanitation all contribute to an increased chance of developing active TB
To save 14 million lives and reach the Millennium Development Goal target for TB by 2015 (part of MDG Goal 6), the world must invest over $57 billion from 2006-2015. For 2008 alone, WHO projected a $2.7 billion funding gap between money needed and money available
According to a World Bank study released in 2007 (The Economic Benefit of Tuberculosis Control), implementing the Global Plan to Stop TB yields a 10-to-1 economic benefit globally. Highly affected African countries could gain up to nine times their investments in TB control; those outside Africa a 15-fold return.
Facts at a Glance – The Global Fund
Since its creation in 2002 the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria has invested US $19.3 billion dollars to support more than 572 prevention, treatment and care programs in 144 countries.
The Global Fund provides a quarter of all international financing for AIDS globally, two-thirds for tuberculosis and three quarters for malaria.
The Global Fund represents 70% of global investments in TB control. In the last funding round the Global Fund approved more TB proposals than any others, increasing financing for TB programs by up to $US 1.5 billion over five years.
Every day, programs supported by the Global Fund save at least 3,600 lives and prevent thousands of new infections.
As of December 2009 the efforts of the Global Fund have saved an estimated 4.9 million lives.
Global Fund support has ensured the following:
Fighting HIV/AIDS
2.8 million people are receiving antiretroviral treatment
120 million HIV counselling and testing sessions were conducted
4.9 million basic care and support services were provided to orphans and vulnerable children
930,000 HIV-positive pregnant women have received PMTCT treatment (Prevention from Mother to Child Transmissions)
Fighting Tuberculosis
7 million new cases of infectious tuberculosis were detected and treated
48% of the 2009 estimated international targets for detection of TB cases and treatment using DOTS were contributed by Global Fund supported programs
Fighting Malaria
122 million bed nets were distributed to protect families from transmission
142.4 million malaria drug treatments were delivered
