USAID Supports Drug-resistant TB Patients in Vietnam

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has said that it would partnership with Janssen Therapeutics of Johnson & Johnson to boost the distribution of Bedaquiline, the first new medication to fight drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in over 40 years, in Vietnam. This innovative partnership is a significant step forward in the global fight against the growing health threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, USAID said in a statement. Tuberculosis remains one of the most common communicable diseases in Vietnam with 130,000 new cases found and 17,000 deaths every year. Vietnam is among the first countries in the world receiving the Bedaquiline donation to support its continuing efforts to fight the disease as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis remains one of health burden in the country. USAID Vietnam on Nov 25 joined the Ministry of Health of Vietnam - National Tuberculosis Program (NTP), KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV) and other partners at an event in the National Lung Hospital to initiate the donation program with the delivery of treatment to more than 100 patients in the country fighting pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) and XDR-TB. This event also kicked off the implementation of a shorter regimen (9-month regimen) for more cost-effective treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Vietnam. Building on 20 years of USAID’s support for TB in Vietnam, its current programs are focused on helping the NTP and the Vietnam Authority of HIV/AIDS Control detect TB earlier, improve TB treatment, enhance the laboratory network and prevent TB transmission. In line with the U.S. Government Global Tuberculosis Strategy 2015 – 2019, USAID provides technical support to the Vietnam NTP on technical interventions. (U.S. Embassy’s Press Release Nov 25)