MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Hunt
On World Tuberculosis Day the Australian Government acknowledges the high burden of disease caused by tuberculosis in the Asia Pacific region, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Greg Hunt said today.
'Every year approximately 100 million people are infected with TB, eight million develop active or infectious TB, and two million die,' Mr Hunt said.
'The burden of disease is particularly heavy in our region. In 2004, there were an estimated 3.8 million cases in the Western Pacific, while six of the countries with the highest rates of TB are in South-East Asia.
'Under Australia's new policy for development assistance in health, Helping Health Systems Deliver, tuberculosis will be addressed as a country-specific health priority.
'Where there is a high burden of tuberculosis in Asia Pacific countries, AusAID will work with partner governments to address the threat of the disease.'
Australia has also contributed $75 million to the Global Fund from 2004-07 to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Global Fund is a global public-private partnership dedicated to preventing and treating AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
'Over the past three years, we have also provided $4.25 million to assist high burden countries in the Asia Pacific region to diagnose and treat TB through the World Health Organization's highly successful Stop TB Program,' Mr Hunt said.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) 2004 estimates, PNG has the third highest incidence of TB among 36 countries in the Western Pacific region. Combating TB has been identified as a priority by the Papua New Guinea Government.
Between 2001 - 2008 Australia will provide almost $1.8 million to support WHO Programs to combat TB in PNG.
In addition, Australia is supporting a five year $70 million initiative which addresses TB, HIV, malaria and maternal and child health in PNG.
Over the next three years, Australia will provide $1.2 million to support the Kiribati Tuberculosis Epidemic Control Project providing more hospital beds for TB patients, training community health workers, and building operational and research capacity within the Kiribati health sector.
Media contacts:
John Deller (Mr Hunt's office) 0400 496 596
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590