The Global Health Initiative (GHI) of the World Economic Forum has developed an awareness-building toolkit for tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug resistant forms of the disease (MDR-TB). Developed with the support of Eli Lilly and Company and the International Council of Nurses, the toolkit is designed to help companies that are starting to implement TB workplace programs and to support those with existing programs.

A recent GHI survey of 11,000 businesses reported that 32 percent of companies worldwide expected some impact from TB on their business in the next five years, highlighting the urgent need for the new toolkit.

Each year, eight million people worldwide are diagnosed with TB, while two million die from the disease. In addition, there are an estimated 400,000 new cases of MDR-TB, a form of the disease that is resistant to standard TB therapy. Yet, TB can be treated and cured. The internationally recognized strategy for TB control – the Direct Observable Treatment Strategy (DOTS) – has proven remarkably effective, even for treatment of MDR-TB. The World Bank has described the DOTS strategy as one of the most cost-effective of all health interventions.

TB imposes many costs on businesses and communities, mainly striking people between the ages of 15 and 54 years, in their productive prime. TB in the workforce disrupts workflow, reduces productivity and increases both direct and indirect costs, such as the replacement and retraining of workers. Studies suggest that, on average, 3–4 months of work time per affected employee are lost as a result of TB. Given effective treatment, however, many employees can safely return to work within two to four weeks.

“Tuberculosis – and, increasingly, multi-drug-resistant TB – kills more than 5,000 people every day, mostly in developing countries,” said Gino Santini, Lilly senior vice president. “If left untreated, about 80 percent of the people infected with MDR-TB will die. If treated properly, however, about 80 percent of patients fully recover and are able to live productive lives that are of immeasurable value to their families and their societies.”

The new toolkit, one of several partnerships Lilly has sponsored to fight TB worldwide, was developed in an effort to raise awareness, and to promote early detection and treatment of TB and MDR-TB. The toolkit recognizes the crucial role that businesses can play in public health matters. It is aimed at the workforce -- employers, employees, and company health-care staff — so they can better understand the early symptoms of TB, seek timely diagnosis and treatment, and realize that with proper treatment, people with TB and MDR-TB need not lose their jobs or be stigmatized in the community and the workplace.

“The workplace toolkit is yet another step to accelerate the uptake of TB control programs by companies, thus preventing the duplication of efforts in developing awareness campaigns, while focussing precious resources on early diagnosis and treatment.” said Francesca Boldrini, director of the Global Health Initiative, World Economic Forum. “The impact of business involvement in TB control has been extremely well demonstrated by the India Business Alliance to Stop TB, by establishing successful workplace and community programs.”

In response to the increasing threat of the TB epidemic on businesses, the India Business Alliance to Stop TB was developed by the GHI – the first such an alliance of businesses worldwide. In 2004, eight premier Indian companies joined forces with national government, industry confederations, the Stop TB Partnership, the World Health Organisation, to fight TB by implementing disease control programs in their workplaces. The alliance now has scaled up programs to cover five million employees and dependants, with more companies joining in 2005. The awareness-building TB/MDR-TB Toolkit, developed as a global template for country-specific adaptation, has been tailored and tested within the TB control programs of the India Business Alliance to Stop TB.

Note to Editors:

About the Global Health Initiative of the World Economic Forum
The goal of the Global Health Initiative (GHI) of the World Economic Forum is to facilitate and stimulate greater business engagement in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. To achieve this goal, the GHI works closely with the World Economic Forum's member companies as well as UNAIDS and the World Health Organization's Stop TB and Roll Back Malaria partnerships. A broad range of NGOs and other members of civil society, as well as governments, have also joined the efforts of the GHI. It provides a unique platform for dialogue, partnership and action on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria involving both the private and the public sectors. It coordinates a community of more than 230 companies that are confronting similar fundamental health challenges to their operations. In particular, the GHI provides a forum to share experiences, to define generally accepted standards and to act as an advocate for the private sector.
For further information on the GHI, please go to http://www.weforum.org/globalhealth


About The Lilly MDR-Partnership
The Lilly MDR-TB Partnership is a public-private initiative led by Eli Lilly and Company to address the expanding crisis of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). It utilizes the capabilities of the Aspen Pharmacare, International Council of Nurses, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Hospital Federation, Hisun Pharmaceutical, Harvard Medical School and Partners in Health, Purdue University, Shasun Chemicals and Drugs, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, STOP TB Partnership, World Economic Forum and the World Medical Association. Lilly has launched a multifaceted philanthropic program to address MDR-TB. Together, they are pursuing a comprehensive strategy to fight MDR-TB through increasing drug supply and discounting prices, providing training in prevention, treatment, and surveillance, and sharing drug manufacturing technology with nations most at risk.
For further information on the Lilly MDR-TB Partnership, please go to http://www.lillymdr-tb.com