Executive Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading killer of children worldwide. Tools to control TB have existed for decades but are poorly implemented. While ending TB in adults is stalled, eliminating pediatric TB is possible. Zero TB Kids led the development of innovative tools and strategies for controlling childhood TB, including: finding, treating, and preventing TB in school-age children; preventing TB in children exposed in the household; and finding and treating TB in pregnant women to prevent transmission to newborns.
We combine cutting-edge molecular diagnostics and short-course preventive regimens to diagnose, treat, and prevent TB in children with social mobilization campaigns to engage affected communities. In just two years, we have reduced TB prevalence in Tibetan refugee schoolchildren by approximately 60 percent. Our project will benefit children who are refugees, have HIV, live in slums, and are poor. Over five years, we can eliminate TB in children across India, yielding major health, economic, and cultural benefits.
Charity, fund, non-governmental organization, religious institution, school, or other entity
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Accomplishments
Zero TB Kids has faced an unprecedented challenge with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of March 2021, India has the second most reported cases of COVID-19 of any country in the world. While our in-country staff have been forced to shift their focus to the pandemic, our project has pivoted to clinic-based case finding from school-, monastery- and nunnery-based TB case finding. We also are procuring a van and digital X-ray machine that we will convert to a fully mobile TB screening facility when we are able to freely travel to congregate living facilities again.
