Pune: Johns Hopkins University, renowned for its global health research and expertise, is joining with partners in Indian to launch the TB-Free Schools Initiative, intended to address the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in India. The Johns Hopkins Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII) has committed $3 million USD towards this three-year initiative.
An estimated 340,000 children under the age of 15 years acquire TB each year in India. While children are estimated to comprise about 13% of the total TB caseload, only 6% are diagnosed and treated. There is evolving scientific understanding that TB transmission occurs most frequently in group settings, including schools. Experts at Hopkins’ GKII believe a collective effort focused on adolescent and pediatric TB would reduce disease incidence and transmission and support India’s national goal for TB elimination.
The collaborative work of India’s leading academic medical research institutions and Johns Hopkins University has already translated into significant changes in TB prevention and treatment globally. A study from the Center for Tuberculosis Research at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and partner institutions, for example, found that a one-month course of TB preventive treatment is safe and as effective as the burdensome nine-month course. The World Health Organization incorporated these and related findings into their treatment guidelines. The findings of another joint India-Johns Hopkins research study helped inform India’s national protocols for screening household contacts of TB patients and administering preventive therapy. This strategy interrupts transmission and substantially lowers the chances for severe TB disease.
The TB-Free Schools Initiative builds on the success of an intervention study led by an India-JHU research collaboration that combined TB education, screening, treatment and preventive therapy in mobile service delivery models using cutting edge technologies for the Tibetan population in Himachal Pradesh. This project demonstrated a cost-effective reduction in TB cases in schools and monasteries in Dharamshala by 87%. Capitalizing on this success, and in collaboration with the National TB Elimination Program, Education Department and other CSR partners, this strategy will be scaled up across four sites in three states: Pune and Satara in Maharashtra, Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, and Chennai in Tamil Nadu.
Dr. Amita Gupta, Chair of Infectious Diseases Department at Johns Hopkins University said, “The Centre for Infectious Diseases is committed to finding evidence-based strategies that accelerate TB. The TB-Free Schools Initiative has demonstrated the power of early detection, treatment, and prevention for dramatically reducing pediatric TB cases. This initiative represents a crucial step toward eliminating TB among and strengthens our collective efforts to build a TB-free generation.”
Raj Gupta, Advisory Board Chair of Gupta-Klinsky India Institute at Johns Hopkins University said, “For nearly a century Johns Hopkins has collaborated with India to advance medicine and public health. Our commitment of 3 million USD reflects our unwavering dedication to solving complex infectious diseases challenges and, specifically, to eliminating tuberculosis. TB continues to impose a severe burden on communities, particularly the most vulnerable. We believe that with focused resources and collaborative action we can hope for a healthier, TB-free future for generations to come.”
Nadia Hansel, Director of the Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine highlighted, “At Johns Hopkins, we’re committed to working with our Indian colleagues to drive meaningful change and improve health outcomes in India and globally.”
Mukul Kumar, Co-Founder and President, Engineering at PubMatic highlighted, “At PubMatic, we are always seeking opportunities to give back to the community and show our care. With this collaboration, we intend to make a meaningful impact in reducing the prevalence of Tuberculosis in India and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to lead a healthy life. Together we are investing in brighter, TB-free futures for the youngest members of our communities.”
Johns Hopkins University’s efforts in India have encompassed research, training, and collaboration with local institutions and the government to advance TB control strategies across geographies. The TB-Free Schools initiative strengthens a century-long relationship between Johns Hopkins University and India, collaborating on advancements in public health, education, and clinical and engineering research.
