Health ministry, USAID sign partnership

USAID and The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare yesterday signed a partnership framework, committing to deepen their collaboration to improve facilities for diagnosing and treating tuberculosis (TB) in Bangladesh.

The framework titled “Global Accelerator to End Tuberculosis” aims to catalyse investments, aid countries across the world and meet the UN target of treating 40 million people by 2022, according to a statement.

Health Secretary Ashadul Islam and USAID Mission Director Derrick Brown signed the partnership framework at The Westin Dhaka.

“Today, by signing the statement of partnership, we at USAID recommit ourselves as a close partner of the Bangladesh government, as the country accelerates its efforts to achieve their targets by 2022,” said Derrick Brown at the signing ceremony.

Bangladesh needs to detect and treat more than 1.5 million new TB cases over the next five years to reach their target. In 2018, the country treated more than 2.5 million TB cases.

However, almost 26 percent of cases remain undetected, and the rate is even higher for multi-drug resistant and child TB cases, according to the statement.

USAID’s TB investments will focus on strengthening laboratory and diagnostic services, detection and treatment of all forms of TB, and preventive therapy.

 The funding amount will be announced at a later time, according to an official of the embassy.