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Abstract
Dear Peter Sands and Aida Kurtović, On Feb 21, 2018, The Global Fund quietly announced its intention to close down its malaria and tuberculosis (TB) projects in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea).1 The decision will have profound negative effects on the health of millions of North Koreans and the populations of other countries in the northeast Asia region. Since 2010, The Global Fund has disbursed over US$100 million to support malaria and TB control programmes in North Korea. The DPRK Ministry of Public Health recognises TB as the most important public health issue in the country.2 North Korea has a TB prevalence that is similar to sub-Saharan Africa despite being a country where HIV is assumed to be non-existent, and drug-resistant TB strains pose a serious problem. To avert such a public health and humanitarian crisis, we respectfully request the following: a full account of The Global Fund's process in reaching the decision; a description of the conditions that would need to be met to resume the projects; and, if the conditions are not able to be met, then the continuation of the projects until an alternative source of funds is secured.
Details
1 Korean American Medical Association, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, USA; Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
2 Interactive Research & Development, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
3 Partners In Health, Boston, MA, USA; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA