The United States and India form an alliance to fight tuberculosis

The challenge of tuberculosis can not be successfully met without special attention to the tuberculosis epidemic in India, said a senior US official, while the United States and India formed an alliance to fight against this deadly disease.

The USAID-India End TB Alliance was announced Wednesday by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator, Mark Green, at an event in New York City in the presence of Health Minister of the Union, JP Nadda.

Green said alliance experts will come up with innovative approaches to fighting TB in India.

Alliance members include leaders from industry and civil society, academics, scientists, innovators, investors and members of the Indian community.

Two members of the alliance – Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Executive Director of the World Health Organization, and Blessina Kumar of the Global Coalition of Tuberculosis Activists – were present at the announcement.

India accounts for 27% of the world's TB cases, with 421,000 deaths a year, Green added, adding that "we can not meet this great challenge without paying special attention to it." tuberculosis epidemic in India ".

It's a person who dies every minute, he added.

Referring to his visit to India in November, he said he had met with a group of TB survivors and their families and learned about the barriers to screening and treatment they face.

"I was particularly moved by those who were initially dissuaded from seeking treatment because of stigma but persevering, and now these women, mostly women, are working as advocates for patients, also supporting those who are fighting stigma ".

"One of the main reasons to hope in India is that Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has committed ambitiously but determined to reach a TB-free India by 2025," he said. -he declares.

USAID has made an initial commitment of $ 30 million, subject to US congressional approval, Green said.