The American Thoracic Society (ATS) is a 14,000 member educational and scientific society incorporated in the United States as a 501C(3) (tax-exempt) non-profit organization.
The ATS was founded in 1905 by a group of tuberculosis hospital directors and has continued to be the major medical professional and scientific organization with an interest in tuberculosis.
The focus of the ATS on tuberculosis is reflected by its leadership role in developing jointly with the U.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for tuberculosis prevention, treatment and control that are used not only in the United States but in other parts of the world as well.
In addition, the ATS publishes the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, a highly respected and widely read scientific journal in which a wide range of tuberculosis research papers are published.
The annual ATS International Conference, attracts approximately 15,000 attendees each year, is a major forum for the presentation of new information about tuberculosis and tuberculosis control as well as providing an arena for tuberculosis training and education. ATS Website
CDC's Mission is to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. CDC seeks to accomplish its mission by working with partners throughout the nation and world to monitor health, detect and investigate health problems, conduct research to enhance prevention, develop and advocate sound public health policies, implement prevention strategies, promote healthy behaviors, foster safe and healthful environments, and provide leadership and training. CDC has developed and sustained many vital partnerships with public and private entities that improve service to the American people. In FY 2000, the workforce of CDC comprised approximately 8,500 FTE in 170 disciplines with a public health focus. Although CDC's national headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia, more than 2,000 CDC employees work at other locations, including 47 state health departments. Approximately 120 are assigned overseas in 45 countries. CDC Website
FHI, one of the world's largest non-governmental organizations providing technical assistance in the areas of HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, and family planning, is dedicated to improving lives and increasing knowledge worldwide through research, education, and services. Since its inception in 1971, FHI has formed partnerships with national, state, district institutions and local communities throughout the world to support lasting improvements in the health of individuals and the effectiveness of health care systems. FHI’s culturally diverse staff of 1,100 provides services to countries all over the world. Worldwide, FHI has implemented programs in more than 66 countries.
Through FHI’s evolving work in HIV/AIDS, it has recognized that targeting TB in areas with high HIV prevalence is critical. However, while HIV and TB work together in deadly partnership, most countries continue to address the two epidemics through separate and less effective programs. Therefore, FHI has been a strong advocate for greater coordination of TB and HIV programs. FHI Website
The Union is the oldest international non-governmental organization in the world dealing with health. Its origins go back to the first international meeting of internal medicine specialists which was held in Paris, France in 1867. Regular scientific meetings were then held to discuss advances in the management of tuberculosis, one of the greatest challenges for the practicing physician at that time. In 1902 the conference organizers established their permanent office in Berlin, GERMANY, which was destroyed during the war of 1914-18. In 1920, the organization was officially reconstituted in Paris, France where its headquarters have been situated ever since.
The mission of The Union is to improve lung health in low-income countries and has developed solid skills in tuberculosis, HIV, child lung health, asthma management and tobacco prevention. In order to reduce the burden of lung disease, it focuses on technical assistance activities for public health services, education and training to build capacity, research with an emphasis on developing innovative methods to promote actions for health, and advocacy to mobilize decision-makers and the public to improve the life and health of communities in low-income countries.
The Union is active in 53 countries in six regions of the world. The Union Website
The Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association (JATA), established in 1939 primarily for the control of tuberculosis in Japan, has expanded its mission over the years to contribute to the fight against TB in the world. With the Research Institute ofTuberculosis (RIT) as the academic center of the Association, JATA
‘s scope of activities include: (1) public awareness raising and community mobilization on TB and other related health problems;, (2) fundraising; (3) clinical services; (4) surveillance and research, both basic and applied; (5) reference for mycobacterial disease; (6) human resource development; and (7) international collaboration. JATA has been a member of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (IUATLD) since 1952. The RIT was designated as a WHO collaborating center in 1982. JATA is also a member of the Stop TB Partnership and participates in activities of working groups under Stop TB. JATA has carried out current and past projects in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Yemen, Kenya and Zambia. JATA Website
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is a leading medical development organization that focuses on combating tuberculosis at the global level. It was founded in 1903. Its mission is to promote effective and efficient tuberculosis control in a both national and international context.
KNCV is a co-founder of the international Stop TB alliance, and is active on four fronts: policy development, technical assistance/country support, professional development, and research.
KNCV provides technical assistance in TB control in 30 countries. The Foundation advises national governments on a wide range of TB control components, including program implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national TB programs, human resource development, laboratory services and drug management.
KNCV also analyzes TB programs and recommends improvements. It additionally promotes the DOTS strategy and DOTS expansion activities with an increasing focus on the dual epidemic of TB and HIV, the threat of MDR TB and new developments in public-private collaborative efforts, quality management and social mobilization. KNCV also provides assistance to national programs that are applying for funds from various donors such as the GFTAM. KNCV Website
Over the past 30 years, MSH has proven its ability to respond quickly and effectively to public health problems through the management of large, multi-disciplinary technical assistance programs in over 100 developing countries.
MSH contributes to the global, regional and country-level efforts to expand DOTS, collaborating with WHO, IUATLD, KNCV and others. Through MSH’s large USAID-funded bilateral programs in Afghanistan, Haiti, Philippines, and South Africa, and centrally funded projects; e.g. the Rational Pharmaceutical Management Plus Program (RPM+), MSH develops individual and institutional management and leadership capacity in the public- and private-sectors.
Specifically, MSH supports National TB programs (NTPs) in planning, cost-analysis and financing, human resources, integrating packages of services, pharmaceutical and laboratory commodities management, and monitoring and evaluation.
MSH has extensive experience implementing
complex centrally funded programs such as RPM+,
BASICS III, Management and Leadership (M&L) and Advance Africa.
All of these programs, as well as MSH’s large bilateral projects, have comprehensive monitoring and evaluation components, supported by “Project Monitoring Plans”, which track progress toward achievement of USAID’s IRs and sub-IRs and facilitate timely decision-making. MSH Website
WHO has responsibility for defining the international health policy for TB control.
Along with a variety of partners worldwide, WHO, in 1994 developed the framework for effective TB control. Subsequently, this has been adopted as the international standard by all agencies working on TB control and, more importantly, as a resolution by 192 Member States.
In 2002, this framework for effective TB control was expanded to address several challenges to sustainable implementation and expansion of TB control activities, such as HIV infection and multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB. WHO staff at headquarters, the six regional and numerous country offices has promoted the implementation of the framework in a number of countries worldwide, which are at various stages of DOTS coverage. Currently, 182 countries are implementing sound TB control following WHO recommendations.
WHO has developed solid expertise on technical assistance to countries, providing advice on policy formulation, project planning and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of TB control activities. WHO can bring this expertise to the TBCTA in order to rapidly expand the DOTS coverage and provide extensive technical assistance in several countries.
WHO is also responsible for coordinating with appropriate partners in the development of new policies and strategies to improve TB control, access and delivery in situations where the current approach needs to be adapted (for instance, in settings with high HIV prevalence and high MDR TB rates). WHO Website
During the Global Health Conference in Washington, DC (May 30 – June 2, 2007), a short film was shown on TBCTA. The film is centered on the project in Indonesia with a special focus on partnership. Click here to view the film.
To read the July edition of the TB CAP newsletter please click here.
Disclaimer: This website is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of TB CAP and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
