Philippines receives $5 million from Chevron for TB eradication efforts

Chevron Corporation has pledged 235 million Philippine pesos, or about $5 million, to the Tropical Disease Foundation in the Philippines to scale up efforts to fight tuberculosis in the country as part of the company's $30 million contribution over three years for TB eradication efforts in Asia and Africa, GMA News reports.

The funding will be allocated through the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria's Corporate Champions program, which encourages multinational corporations to invest in efforts to combat the three diseases.

The project aims to reduce TB mortality in the Philippines by 50% by 2010 and increase the TB case detection and treatment success rates to 70% and 85%, respectively, through an advocacy and communication campaign that will include audio-visual presentations and flier distribution. The campaign will work with the Philippines Department of Health to raise public awareness of TB symptoms and disseminate information about the locations of public health centers and the availability of no-cost medical services. TB patients will be placed on the DOTS regimen and will receive no-cost treatment, and "even their transportation fee" will be paid for by the program, Thelma Tupasi, TDF president, said at the launch of the program.

Tupasi said TB is "closely linked with poverty and is a threat to the economic prosperity" of the Philippines and cited research that found the country loses 35 million Philippine pesos, or about $748,000, in wages annually as a result of TB. Treating TB "will result (in) 10 times the return on investment," Tupasi said. Randy Johnson, country chair and general manager of Chevron Philippines, said that the project will use "human energy" to support "sustainable initiatives that are directed toward the prevention, treatment and care of TB," adding that TB "in its current state presents a very grave danger to the people and the economy of the Philippines."

The Philippines has a TB mortality rate of 42 deaths per 100,000 people annually and ranks ninth out of the 22 countries with the highest TB burden worldwide, Tupasi said. She added that the Philippines also has a "very high rate" of multi-drug resistant TB.

Tupasi said that TDF is "eager" to work with Chevron because the company "has proven a track record of dedicating time and energy in ... community engagement programs such as providing equitable access to TB services and care." Michel Kazatchkine, executive director of the Global Fund, added that the Global Fund is "pleased" to collaborate with Chevron because of the company's commitment to community programs. Antonio Lee, president and general manager of Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holdings, added that the company intends to "encourage others to join Global Fund Corporate Champions" and hopes to "raise awareness of the programs and health risks associated with" HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria (See, GMA News, 10/2).