Reinvesting in TB REACH to #EndTB

In order to address the global TB epidemic, we must ensure that people affected by TB can access the care they need - regardless of where they live.

Last year, the World Health Organization released the 2022 Global TB Report, which showed a devastating increase in TB incidence and deaths for the second year in a row.  Disruptions to programming and care caused by COVID-19 resulted in TB deaths increasing for the first time since 2005, with 1.6 million people dying of the disease in 2021 alone. Despite being both preventable and treatable, TB was the deadliest infectious disease in the world prior to COVID-19, and is now on a trajectory to regain the title.  

The single greatest barrier to ending TB is the fact that each year, approximately 4 million people with TB are missed by health systems and do not get the care they need. Reaching the “missing millions” is imperative to global TB elimination and is the primary focus of Stop TB Partnership’s TB REACH initiative – an innovative financing mechanism that effectively locates people in hard-to-reach communities so that they can access the care that they need and would otherwise go without.  

About TB REACH

Canada is the foundational and leading donor to TB REACH, leading support for its core programming since its inception in 2010. With sustained support from the Canadian government, TB REACH grantees have screened more than 40 million people for TB, resulting in over 2.6 million people being diagnosed and put on treatment. Their work has saved approximately 1.3 million lives, as well as helped to stop TB from spreading within most communities placed at risk.  

Minister of International Development, Harjit Sajjan, announces a commitment of CAD$11 million to TB REACH on World TB Day 2022 in Ottawa, Canada.

In 2015, Canada committed a 5-year award of CAD $85 million to TB REACH and renewed its commitment with a one-year investment of CAD $11 million in 2022. Canada’s contributions to TB REACH, totalling $205 million since 2010, have been essential to the initiative’s impressive results and we must, at minimum, maintain our 2022 level of investment in this lifesaving initiative.  

Continued support is critical to ensuring continuity of care, especially given disruptions to programming caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. TB REACH is well-placed to fill gaps in service provision during the pandemic, as the initiative supports community-led programs in isolated communities around the world. We must ensure that Canada maintains its investment in TB REACH so that millions of people affected by TB will not be missed. 

The ask

Canada must maintain its investment in TB REACH by committing at least CAD$33 million over three years to ensure that communities affected by TB can access the care they need.

Why now?

More people with TB are going undiagnosed and untreated.

  • The WHO’s 2022 Global TB Report shows a decrease in the number of case notifications for TB since 2019 due to COVID-19 disruptions, which means fewer people with TB are being diagnosed and treated. 

  • More untreated TB is increasing the risk of transmission among groups placed at-risk and threatening a surge of drug-resistant TB, which currently accounts for one third of global deaths related to antimicrobial resistance. 

The demand for TB REACH is significant. 

  • There was a 50% increase in applications for Wave 9 in 2021, requesting a total of US$145 million – far exceeding the amount of funding available to support these programs.    

TB REACH is aligned with Canada's existing priorities. 

  • Funding TB REACH supports Canadian priorities of localization. To build local capacity and ensure affected communities are at the heart of programming, TB REACH funded projects are designed and implemented by local, non-governmental organizations.   

  • TB REACH has funded unique projects to help key populations that are otherwise often left behind and, with the support of Canada, has supported programs that focus on empowering women and girls. 

TB REACH compliments Canada’s investments in TB.

  • TB REACH plays a critical role in the TB ecosystem as an intermediary between producers of cost-effective diagnostics (like FIND, the global alliance for diagnostics) and therapeutics (like TB Alliance), and scaled projects delivered by the Global Fund. An investment in TB REACH therefore also supports Canada’s  investments in FIND and the Global Fund.    

Take action

Take to social media

Increase public awareness for this issue by posting on social media. Use the pre-drafted tweet below or craft your own message on the social media platform that you prefer.