Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s deadliest infectious disease –killing 1.5 million people in 2018, more than HIV/AIDS and malaria deaths combined. Of the 10 million new cases of TB, only 7 million were diagnosed, meaning that 3 million people with TB each year go unaccounted for. Many of these “missing millions” are in their most productive years and could potentially be reached through workplace and supply chain programs.
Initiated by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Johnson & Johnson, Royal Philips, Fullerton Health Foundation, the Confederation of Indian Industry, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Stop TB Partnership, a new initiative – Ending Workplace Tuberculosis (TB) – was launched at Davos on 21 January 2020. Aimed at engaging major businesses in the fight against TB, this initiative will leverage the untapped potential of businesses in countries disproportionately impacted by TB to roll out awareness, detection and treatment programs, to reach millions of workers, their families and communities.
“Businesses –particularly those with commercial, distribution and manufacturing operations in high TB-burden countries –can make a huge impact by fighting the effects of TB on their workforces and supply chains, complementing the efforts of local governments,” said Lynn Lau Executive Director at Fullerton Health Foundation. “In collaboration with our partners, this campaign is committing to help catalyse that.”
