PRESS RELEASE
National Partnership to Eliminate Tuberculosis Awarded New Grant to Expand Network and Serve More At-Risk Populations
CDC-funded initiative aims to expand access to culturally responsive care for communities at high risk for TB
October 18, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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WASHINGTON—The Tuberculosis Elimination Alliance (TEA)—led by the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) with Stop TB USA, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), and Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF)—today announced that it has been awarded $610,000 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand its network of organizations in support of increasing access to culturally responsive care and resources for populations at high risk for and disproportionately impacted by tuberculosis (TB), primarily Asian, Asian American (A/AA), Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (NH/PI), non-U.S. born Latino American, and U.S. born African American communities.
“Since its formation, TEA has worked to ensure that those disproportionately affected by TB are tested and provided with culturally and linguistically responsive care they need and deserve,” Jeffrey B. Caballero, MPH, executive director of AAPCHO. “CDC’s continued investment in TEA and our collective efforts is a testament to the strength and achievements of our national partnership, and to the trust we all have worked hard to earn from the communities we serve. We look forward to building on our partnership and expanding our network, and moving closer to our shared goal of eliminating TB.”
TEA currently comprises 15 local partners, including community health centers, community-based organizations, regional and statewide coalitions, health agencies, and academic institutions located in areas with highest TB incidence rates across the continental U.S., Hawai’i, and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. The local partners demonstrate TB expertise in community outreach, clinical research, and providing culturally and linguistically appropriate testing and treatment for vulnerable A/AA and NH/PI populations. Through AAPCHO, the initiative has been awarded a new grant by the CDC to strengthen a community engagement network that serves communities at risk for TB and their health care providers, as part of a $176 million National Partners Cooperative Agreement (CoAg) program, aimed at helping public health organizations across the United States strengthen their workforce and infrastructure.
“Stop TB USA is proud to continue to be a national partner of TEA,” said Cynthia A. Tschampl, PhD, chair of Stop TB USA. “It is well known that a disproportionate number of AAs and NH/PIs are impacted by TB. We need to continue to assure that these communities have ready access to all the TB expertise on a local, state, and national level; Stop TB USA recommits to working with TEA partners to make sure this happens.”
“Like many communities of color, AAs and NH/PIs have higher rates of preventable diseases such as TB and latent TB infections. A mix of poverty, immigration-based barriers, lack of cultural competency and language access barriers prevent our community from eliminating
TB,” said Juliet K. Choi, JD, chief executive officer of APIAHF. “APIAHF is grateful for our partnership with TEA and CDC, and for the opportunity to continue our work together to increase access to critical care and services for AA, NH/PI, and other communities disproportionately impacted by TB.”
“Latent TB infection and hepatitis B are both serious public health priorities that disparately impact AA and NH/PI populations,” said Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH, president of HBF. “We are proud to be part of TEA and appreciate collaborating with TB community partners to align efforts and build our public health and health care system’s capacity to increase TB awareness, testing, and treatment.”
For more information on TEA, visit www.tbeliminationalliance.org or contact tea@aapcho.org.
About the Tuberculosis Elimination Alliance
The TB Elimination Alliance (TEA), led by the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF), and Stop TB USA, with the support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a national partnership of community leaders dedicated to eliminating TB and LTBI inequities among Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander populations through education, raising awareness, and innovation. For more information on TEA, please visit www.tbeliminationalliance.org.
Contact
Beverly Quintana, (510) 272-9536, bquintana@aapcho.org