Description of the project

Despite the fact that children make up as much as 20% of new cases of active tuberculosis in high-burden settings, paediatric TB diagnosis and treatment remains largely neglected. Consequently, the development of appropriate and adapted paediatric TB drug formulations consistently lags behind that of adults.

UNITAID, through it partners, aims to provide more than 750,000 TB treatments to children under the age of 15 by 2011. It is also working to ensure the development and supply of new child-friendly TB formulations for children under four in at least 58 countries by 2011. By helping increase the number of manufacturers, UNITAID has additionally achieved price reductions for paediatric TB medicines of up to 18%. Further, UNITAIDs funding support to WHO has facilitated the prequalification of the first ever paediatric TB medicine.

A.	Project title:	UNITAID Project Support for Paediatric Tuberculosis Project 2006/Q4 and 2007
B.	Timeframe:	2006-2011
C.	Amount committed by UNITAID:	US$ 11 603 952
D.	Lead partner:	Global Drug Facility of the Stop TB Partnership
E.	Other partner(s):	N/A