Ambassador Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, has announced a one-time $20 million investment to develop and initiate an innovative, integrated TB/HIV care package in targeted countries with a significant burden of TB/HIV co-infection.  This is part of an overall investment of $160 million in PEPFAR resources to combat TB/HIV.  The eligible PEPFAR countries are Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zambia.  These PEPFAR country teams will have to submit a separate proposal for these resources, and the resources will be in addition to resources outlined in the country operating plans or COPS.

He also noted that PEPFAR hopes to commit $2 million, pending Congressional approval, to support implementation evaluation and scale-up of the Xpert MTB/RIF diagnostic test, building upon existing PEPFAR –supported laboratory platforms.

To read Dr. Goosby’s full blog post on TB/HIV co-infection posted on World TB Day, click here.