Spiro seeks to bring TB prevention and care to household contacts of people living with TB
Tuberculosis (TB) is preventable and curable but is still the world’s leading infectious disease killer, causing the deaths of 1.3 million people annually and disproportionately affecting children.
Since 2015 the World Health Organization (WHO) has made TB preventive treatment a strategic priority. Household contacts should be screened for TB—those living with active TB should receive treatment and those without should receive antibiotic preventative treatment.
But we’re still failing millions of people around the world. Fewer than 1 in 3 children eligible for preventative treatment receive it globally, despite costing just $2 to $20 per child.
To help address this issue, Spiro will implement sustainable household screening programs.
IDENTIFY
SCREEN
TREAT
Our first program will aim to curb infections and save lives by identifying, screening, and treating household contacts of people living with TB in Punjab province in Pakistan. We will focus particularly on children under 5 years old as they are at particularly high risk.