22 September 2023: Today, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) launched an effort to detect two million active tuberculosis (TB) cases over the next five years and prevent at least 500,000 TB-related deaths among people living with HIV. According to estimates, more than half of the current TB cases among people living with HIV go undiagnosed. PEPFAR and its partners are committed to using new tools and new approaches that dramatically increase TB diagnosis and treatment coverage for people living with HIV.

On April 25, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, Ambassador Deborah Birx, approved PEPFAR’s $483 million Country Operational Plan 2017 (COP2017) budget for South Africa, an increase over 2016. The COP2017 budget will support South Africa’s HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) programs through September 2018. The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the U.S. government’s initiative to help save the lives of those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS around the world. Since 2004, PEPFAR has invested over $5.6 billion in South Africa’s response to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS and TB. This investment has saved the lives of millions of South Africans.

Countries receiving the rapid tests are: Côte d'Ivoire, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Burma.

PEPFAR has released its "Fiscal Year 2013 Country Operational Plan (COP) Guidance" on its website. The document (.pdf) provides guidance with respect to COP preparation; priorities and approaches for FY 2013; mandatory earmarks and reporting requirements; COP elements; as well as management and operations (October 2012).

The growing evidence regarding the burden and detrimental effects of TB among women and children, especially among those living with HIV, highlights the need for improving TB/HIV activities in PMTCT and maternal, newborn, and child health settings.