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New Research Hub Launched to Study Health and Social Impact of Mining and Migration in Royal Bafokeng Nation

New Research Hub Launched to Study Health and Social Impact of Mining and Migration in Royal Bafokeng Nation

JOHANNESBURG, 27 November 2024. The BAMMISHO Node, or Bafokeng Health & Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), has been officially launched as the latest South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN) site in the Royal Bafokeng Nation, North-West Province. Located near Rustenburg’s platinum mines, this research hub will focus on the social and health effects of mining and migration on local communities.

Dr. Kobus Herbst, SAPRIN Director, remarked, "The addition of BAMMISHO as our seventh node marks an important expansion of SAPRIN’s network. This new site will not only generate essential insights into the health and socio-economic impacts of mining and migration but also strengthen our collective research capacity to address the unique challenges facing South African communities.” Dr Kobus Herbst, SAPRIN director “welcomed BAMMISHO as the seventh and newest node in South Africa aiming to produce high-quality research and enhance research capacity."

Led by the AWISE collaboration—a partnership including Aurum Institute, Wits University, Sefako Makgatho University of Health Sciences, and Johns Hopkins University—the BAMMISHO Node is set to gather robust, long-term data on health, migration, and demographic patterns in the Bojanala District. Home-grown public health experts Professor Keitshepile Geoff Setswe and Professor Malla Mathildah Mokgatle, along with Professors Chris Hofman and Latifat Ibisomi, will guide this project, with Ms. Ireen Mosweu leading community engagement efforts.

"Our goal is to create a world-class research site that not only informs public health policies but also improves community health outcomes," said Prof. Setswe. The Node will serve as a platform for high-impact research, attracting international and local researchers while supporting Vision 2035 of the Royal Bafokeng Nation and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 on health and well-being.

Dr. Koketso Rakhudu, Kgosana of the Tsitsing village of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, welcomed the node. "This represents a significant step forward in our commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of our people, ensuring that the impact of mining and migration is thoroughly understood and addressed."

Key research activities include tracking 100,000 residents across 43,000 households to map demographic changes and health trends over time, addressing critical health challenges like HIV/AIDS, TB, chronic diseases, and the impacts of migration. The Node also aims to build a network of early-career researchers, offering financial support for smaller, community-based projects.

Dr Malebo Maponyane, Head of Health and Social Development Services at the Royal Bafokeng Nation said "The launch of the BAMMISHO Node is a pivotal moment for the Royal Bafokeng Nation. As the Head of Health and Social Development Services, I am committed to leveraging this research hub to enhance our understanding of mining and migration impacts. By prioritizing data-driven decisions, collaborating with esteemed partners, and engaging with our community, we will drive initiatives that ensure a healthier and more resilient future for all Bafokeng citizens." With three core units—implementation research and data management, clinical and laboratory research, and health systems research—the BAMMISHO Node will support studies that address urgent health and socio-economic needs while driving policy transformation for long-term community resilience.

"Through our work in the BAMMISHO Node, we aim to integrate behavioural and social research into our health initiatives, ensuring that we address the social determinants of health and improve access to services for all community members." shared Prof. Mokgatle, Head of the Department of Public Health at Sefako Makgatho University of Health Sciences

For more information, please contact Aurum Group Senior Marketing and Communications Director, Kanya Ndaki: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.(+27 832986100).

About SAPRIN

South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN) is a major new long-term investment in a national research infrastructure, funded by the national Department of Science, Technology, and Investment (DSTI) and hosted by the SA Medical Research Council (SAMRC). SAPRIN’s vision is equitable health and social wellbeing. Our mission is to achieve this through a dynamic and impactful research infrastructure underpinned by longitudinal population-based nodes in under-resourced communities across South Africa.

SAPRIN is a valuable resource for researchers and policymakers working to improve the health and wellbeing of South African communities. Through its focus on collaboration, partnership, and ethical research practices, SAPRIN is helping to build a more robust and responsive research infrastructure in South Africa, and to support evidence-based decision-making and policy development.

Of the seven SAPRIN nodes, four are rural and they are Agincourt (Mpumalanga), DIMAMO (Limpopo), AHRI (KwaZulu – Natal) and BAMMISHO (North – West). There are three urban nodes; GRT-INSPIRED (Gauteng), C-SHARP (Western Cape), and USINGA (KwaZulu-Natal). https://saprin.mrc.ac.za

About The Aurum Institute

The Aurum Institute is a proudly African organisation working to advance health, science, and innovation to create a healthier world for future generations. We partner with governments, the private sector and civil society to design and deliver high-quality care and treatment to people in developing communities. www.auruminstitute.org

About Wits School of Public Health

This multi-disciplinary school produces skilled public health practitioners appropriately trained to address the range of public health needs and challenges within South African and African settings. www.wits.ac.za/publichealth

Sefako Makgatho Department of Public Health

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), as the only health sciences university in South Africa, is strategically positioned to focus on multidisciplinary health research that will provide solutions to ease the quadruple burden of disease facing the country. www.smu.ac.za/public-health-programmes

The Royal Bafokeng Nation is a community in the North West Province of South Africa, primarily known for its rich cultural heritage and significant mineral wealth, particularly platinum. The Bafokeng people have a long history dating back to the 12th century, and they are led by a hereditary king, currently Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi.

This rural nation has successfully leveraged its mineral resources to invest in infrastructure, education, and economic development, making it one of the most prosperous rural communities in South Africa. The Royal Bafokeng Administration manages these resources and initiatives, aiming to create a sustainable and self-sufficient community. https://www.bafokenginstitute.org.za

About Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University, founded in 1876 as America’s first research university, is a global leader in education, research, and innovation. With a mission to advance knowledge and foster independent thinking, Johns Hopkins is home to world-renowned faculty, groundbreaking discoveries, and transformative scholarship across disciplines.

The university's commitment to excellence spans nine academic divisions, including the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Whiting School of Engineering, the School of Medicine, and the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Johns Hopkins consistently ranks among the top universities globally, driven by its dedication to addressing complex challenges and improving lives worldwide. www.jhu.edu.


The Aurum Institute Announces New Group CEO to Lead Next Phase of Growth

The Aurum Institute Announces New Group CEO to Lead Next Phase of Growth

JOHANNESBURG, 26 August 2024. The Aurum Institute, a leading Africa-based global health organisation today announced that Professor Dave Clark will succeed Professor Gavin Churchyard as Group CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Prof Churchyard, who founded Aurum and has led the organisation for 26 years, will retire at the end of 2024. Aurum is a leader in the prevention and treatment of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) and played an important role in Africa’s COVID response.

Prof Clark, who holds degrees in medicine (MBBCh), business administration (MBA), commerce (BCom) and health services management (DHSM), has been an integral part of Aurum's leadership since its founding. As the current Group chief operating officer, he brings comprehensive insight into the organisation's mission and operations and governance systems, all designed to generate evidence for policy and how it is translated into health care practice.

"I am honoured to lead Aurum into its next chapter," said Prof Clark. "Aurum's strength lies in our ability to be locally rooted and globally influential. We will build on this foundation to continuously improve global health, from our crucial work in TB and HIV to addressing the rise of non-communicable diseases, particularly in Africa, and strengthening global health security in advance of future pandemics."

Professor Clark has overseen the implementation of Aurum’s large body of work throughout Africa. He has played a pivotal leadership role in all of Aurum’s research and health programmes to date, most notably in the grants awarded under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the US Government’s premier programme to end the HIV epidemic. Aurum’s work under PEPFAR has seen over 850,000 lives saved through antiretroviral therapy over the past 20 years.

Referencing the impact of Aurum’s work, Prof Clark said, “It is incredible to see the health of an individual change because evidence has influenced policy at a national and global level. Aurum is uniquely positioned to drive such changes. We do the science and the clinical trials, use the evidence they generate to influence policy and then implement those policies in the trenches of global health delivery. And we do it with the most incredible staff and partners in the world.” 

Dr Jerry Gule, chair of Aurum's board of directors, enthusiastically endorsed the appointment. "Prof Clark's selection by the Board was unanimous. It came after a rigorous process that considered nearly 200 candidates. His deep understanding of Aurum, coupled with his vision for the future, makes him the ideal leader to build on Prof Churchyard's remarkable legacy. The Board is committed to supporting Prof Clark in maintaining Aurum's strong African identity while expanding its global influence," shared Dr Gule.

Previously, Prof Clark worked as a medical doctor and later became the general manager of Anglogold Health Services, providing health care for 300,000 gold miners acutely vulnerable to HIV and TB. He joined Aurum in 2004 as deputy CEO and executive director of the board to operate on the cutting edge of HIV and TB research. He has played a pivotal role in its growth from a small research foundation with a staff of 30 to a major global health organisation with a staff of 3,000. His operational and governance leadership has enabled the organisation to manage large-scale, complex health programmes with the highest standards of accountability and impact.

Prof Churchyard, the outgoing CEO, expressed his support for the transition. “It has been an incredible journey leading Aurum for the past 26 years, and I'm proud of what we've accomplished. I am confident that under Dave Clark’s leadership, with his passion for our mission and strategic insights, Aurum will make ever greater contributions to our communities and to global health," lauded Churchyard.

Upon his retirement as Group CEO, Prof Churchyard will assume the position of president emeritus to provide support to Prof Clark, pursue his own programme of research and continue to be an ambassador for Aurum.

As Aurum prepares for this leadership transition, the organisation remains committed to its core mission of improving health outcomes in Africa and beyond,” Dr Gule said. “The challenges facing global health are changing, and under Prof Clark’s leadership, Aurum will also evolve to directly address the most pressing challenges, using the most innovative methods, to take success to scale.

Notes to editors

About The Aurum Institute:

The Aurum Institute is a proudly African organisation whose mission is to generate evidence for policy and translate policy into practice to positively impact the health of communities globally. We partner with governments, the private sector and civil society to design and deliver high-quality care and treatment to people in developing communities.

 

About Professor Dave Clark, MBBCh, BCom, MBA, CD(SA)

Dr Dave Clark is an expert in global health management from Johannesburg, South Africa. He is currently the Group chief operations officer of The Aurum Institute. He was part of executive and clinical management of hospitals and health services in the gold subsidiary of the Anglo-American group up until 2004 before moving to Aurum. As an executive director and board member of Aurum, Dr Clark is strongly involved in all aspects of the healthcare research and delivery, as well as oversees all business services and strategic management of the company. His activities include the implementation of business and information technology solutions for financial, human resource, and research data management to support the work of the scientific and clinical departments.

Dr Clark’s strengths include an analytical mind with an emphasis on lateral thinking as well as an ability to draw operational teams together and motivate them to implement projects that deliver results. He has a particular interest in systems design and implementation and the development of governance and executive leadership for NGO’s and small companies.

Dr Clark qualified in medicine at Wits University in Johannesburg. He holds a master's degree in business administration and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, as well as a diploma in health services management. Dave is also a Chartered Director (SA).

Dr Clark holds an adjunct professor appointment at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, and is an executive and non-executive board member of several companies.

About Professor Gavin Churchyard, MBBCh (WITS), FCP (SA), FRCP (Edin), MMed (Int Med), PhD (WITS)

Professor Gavin Churchyard is the founder and current Group chief executive officer of The Aurum Institute (NPC). He is a specialist physician (internal medicine) with a master’s degree in medicine and a doctorate degree in infectious diseases. He is a National Research Foundation A-rated scientist, an honorary professor at the University of Witwatersrand, School of Public Health, and an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt School of Medicine. He is the co-chair of the National Institutes of Health, Cross-Network TB vaccine Working Group, and the principal investigator on numerous TB vaccine and preventive treatment trials. He has published widely in the areas of TB and HIV treatment and prevention and contributed to international and national guidelines for TB.


Community Statement: Safeguarding Children against Tuberculosis Takes Center Stage with Introduction of Child-Friendly Formulation of Rifapentine for Short-Course Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment

Community Statement: Safeguarding Children against Tuberculosis Takes Center Stage with Introduction of Child-Friendly Formulation of Rifapentine for Short-Course Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment

As community and civil society leaders who have worked determinedly to prevent tuberculosis (TB) in our communities, we herald the introduction of the world’s first child-friendly formulation of rifapentine as an essential innovation to save children from TB. We call on our governments to move quickly to procure this life-saving product without delay.

Lupin manufactures the new formulation, which is water-dispersible and raspberry-mint flavored, making it easy to administer and more appealing to children. Depending on the child's weight, it costs between US$6.53 and US$15.80, making 3HP the most affordable TB preventive treatment (TPT) regimen for children and cheaper than the longer alternatives—3HR and IPT—that our countries are more accustomed to using.

With support from the Unitaid-funded IMPAACT4TB project, communities and civil society have spent the past seven years creating demand and advocating for the introduction and scale-up of rifapentine-based short-course TB preventive treatment (TPT) regimens 3HP and 1HP. Our persistent efforts, spanning from grassroots to global levels, aimed at ensuring equitable and affordable access to the best available standard of TPT for people at risk of TB. The 3HP and 1HP regimens – consisting of rifapentine taken together with isoniazid either once weekly for 12 weeks (3HP) or daily for one month (1HP) – are becoming the preferred options for preventing the development of TB disease in individuals with TB infection. We have seen how 3HP has changed the game for TB prevention, particularly for adults, with over 8 million patient courses of 3HP procured over the past three years.

"These regimens have demonstrated effectiveness comparable to traditional monotherapy with isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT),” said Edna Tembo, the Director of the Coalition of Women Living with HIV (COWLHA) in Malawi. “3HP has resulted in higher completion rates, reduced pill burden, and fewer side effects. At a national level in Malawi, this has led to improved access to preventive TB treatment, particularly for high-risk communities. Still, one group has lagged: children."

In 2022 alone, TB claimed the lives of 1.3 million individuals, and among these fatalities, 214,000 were children aged 0–14 years. While children face multifaceted challenges when it comes to TB—including underdiagnosis leading to under-notification—they are also in desperate need of child-friendly prevention services.

“Adults are responsible for safeguarding the rights of children. We need to prevent TB among children by treating them with the new pediatric rifapentine formulation, as they face huge challenges in taking oral pills. The Indian TB program should place procurement orders for the new child-friendly formulation. This way, TB can be prevented among children," averred Ketho Angami, from Ark Foundation—a local organization in Nagaland that has been advocating for short-course TPT in India.

Community-led movements supported by IMPAACT4TB are heralding the introduction of a child-friendly formulation of rifapentine as a chance to close the prevention gap between adults and children.

Judith Mkandawire, an expert client, mother, and advocate with COWLHA, called on the Malawi government to act expeditiously in promoting this child-friendly formulation. “I lost my child, and it's now that I refer to it that it was due to TB. Going through this experience, I am now a great advocate for children of TB patients’ household contacts to receive TPT. My plea is for the government to ensure TPT for children is improved to short regimens as for adults because INH is too long and has side effects that most of us fear to give our children with the experience we had.”

A child-friendly version of rifapentine-based 3HP is a crucial step in the work to promote community-led, decentralised, and family-based approaches to TB preventive treatment – but it will only benefit children if governments use it. We call on our governments and others to take advantage of an Early Market Access Vehicle through which IMPAACT4TB will offer enough of the new rifapentine formulation for 85,000 children to receive 3HP this year. This initiative aims to increase access to short-course TB preventive treatments and reach more young children, addressing the unmet medical need for preventing pediatric TB, especially in resource-limited and TB-endemic settings.

A webinar on 17 April 2024, held by the IMPAACT4TB project and the World Health Organization (WHO) addressed the key concerns children face regarding TB. It also discussed how this project collaborated with manufacturers to produce child-friendly dispersible, flavored tablets. The webinar recording can be found here including an animation on how to administer 3HP to a child here.

Mkandawire spoke to the unbearable challenges faced by mothers where TB is concerned. “It is heartbreaking that so many children succumb to TB. As young mothers, we have struggled to crush tablets for our children and lived in fear of exposing them to TB,” stated Mkandawire. “It is time for the world to prioritize children, who are often overlooked in the TB space. Childhood TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are a significant breakthrough."

“We urge our National TB Programmes to move quickly to place orders via the Early Market Access Vehicle and work closely with communities to provide 3HP to children in TB-affected households. This is a way to build experience with a new product that, moving forward, should be an essential part of every national TB program,” said Tendayi Westerhof, the Director of PAPWC, Zimbabwe.

Notes for Editor

About IMPAACT4TB

The IMPAACT4TB (Increasing Market and Public Health Outcomes Through Scaling Up Affordable Access Models of Short Course Preventive Therapy for TB) Consortium led by the Aurum Institute funded by Unitaid and partnered by CHAI, Johns Hopkins University, KNCV, and TAG, focuses on scaling up access to preventive therapy for TB. It targets PLHIV and child contacts, who face the highest risk of TB. Initially investigating the safety of combining 3HP and DTG, the project expanded to introduce 3HP as a preventive option across 12 low-middle income countries. Efforts extended beyond these countries, resulting in over 70 additional countries procuring 3HP. The grant is also supporting studies on 3HP in ART-naive patients, dosing in children aged 0-2, and enhanced service delivery and advocacy for improved policy and uptake. Learn more at www.impaact4tb.org

About Unitaid:

Unitaid saves lives by making new health products available and affordable for people in low- and middle-income countries. Unitaid works with partners to identify innovative treatments, tests and tools; helps tackle the market barriers that are holding them back; and gets them to the people who need them most — fast. Since it was created in 2006, Unitaid has unlocked access to more than 100 groundbreaking health products to help address the world’s greatest health challenges, including HIV, TB and malaria; women’s and children’s health; and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Every year, these products benefit more than 170 million people. Unitaid is a hosted partnership of the World Health Organization. https://unitaid.org/#en 

About Treatment Action Group (TAG)

TAG, headquartered in New York, is an advocacy organization dedicated to advancing research and policies to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and hepatitis C. With a focus on promoting access to innovative treatments and advocating for the rights of affected communities, TAG plays a pivotal role in shaping global health agendas. Through collaboration with researchers, policymakers, and grassroots organizations, TAG strives to ensure that life-saving medications and interventions reach those most in need. Their relentless efforts continue to drive progress towards ending the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, TB, and hepatitis C worldwide. https://www.treatmentactiongroup.org/


New Study: Combo Treatment Can Help Solve the TB-HIV Co-Infection Crisis — More than Half a Million People Could Benefit

New Study: Combo Treatment Can Help Solve the TB-HIV Co-Infection Crisis — More than Half a Million People Could Benefit

For people starting HIV treatment, combining dolutegravir-containing antiretroviral therapy with 3HP TB preventive treatment is safe and works effectively in tandem

DENVER (March 5, 2023) — New clinical trial results show that the best-in-class treatment for HIV works well with one of the best tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatments. The trial looked at people who had yet to start treatment for HIV, evaluating how dolutegravir (DTG)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) works when taken together with 3HP, a short, three-month course of isoniazid and rifapentine. The results, showing the safety of starting DTG-based ART and 3HP TB preventive treatment at the same time, were presented today at the 2024 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Denver, Colorado.

Each year, there are an estimated 670,000 new TB cases among people living with HIV and an estimated 167,000 deaths from TB-related HIV. The findings of the study, funded by Unitaid through the IMPAACT4TB project, show the promise of simultaneous initiation of DTG and 3HP to prevent a major health threat in sub-Saharan Africa and the world.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and, whenever possible, it is best to get that ounce in early,” said Ethel Weld, MD PhD, an assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the principal investigator in the study. “This study looked at the safety, efficacy, and drug levels of DTG when given together with 3HP from the outset in new HIV patients. Though an expected interaction was seen, DTG still held down HIV viral loads, and the combination was safe and well-tolerated.”

The trial — called “DOLPHIN-TOO” — focused on DTG drug concentrations in blood among people living with HIV who had never previously been treated with ART and who are also taking 3HP or 6 months of isoniazid (6H). At the same time that the patients started DTG, they also started either 3HP or 6H. Studies have shown the 3HP regimen is preferred by patients, has less toxicity and is more achievable for patients to complete than the longer courses of isoniazid (which can last up to a year in some places).

The trial focused on whether the levels of DTG in the blood were impacted by the 3HP regimen. The results showed that, while people in the 3HP group did have lower levels the DTG in their blood stream than people in the 6H group, they were nonetheless able to achieve viral suppression (an undetectable level of HIV virus in blood) by 8 weeks and maintain it for the length of the six-month study. Minimal side effects were seen, none were severe and the majority were resolved with continuation of therapy. Previous research, released at the Union World Conference on Lung Health in November of 2023, had provided information on the safety and efficacy of the use of 3HP and DTG together, without data on the drug levels in the blood.

This study points to the use of short course TB preventive treatment in people who are newly diagnosed with HIV and are at highest risk of active TB disease. The results will inform WHO and country-level policy on the timing of TB preventive treatment in people who are newly initiating DTG based ART in high burden TB countries globally. This study complements previous studies conducted by the Unitaid-funded IMPAACT4TB consortium that determined the safety of use of 3HP in people living with HIV who are already established and virally suppressed on DTG-based ART. Those studies increased the demand for the product, which led to a reduction in the price of the product, fostering widescale access to short course TPT. This is expected to reduce TB mortality by 150,000 by 2035.

“For patients with HIV, the best time to start TB preventive treatment is when they are first starting ART,” said Professor Gavin Churchyard, the group CEO of the Aurum Institute. “This is when patients are most closely monitored and are in regular contact with clinics and healthcare providers, making it easier to monitor them for any potential side effects. Seeing how safe and effective simultaneous initiation of 3HP and DTG-based ART is, this approach needs to be adopted in every country where TB is prevalent. The only way we will end TB is if we systematically prevent new TB cases in people with HIV up front — and we now have the recipe to do so.”

“This research gives programs the green light to fully integrate 3HP into the care of people with HIV right from the very beginning of HIV treatment,” said Mike Frick, co-director of the TB program the Treatment Action Group, a community-based research and policy think tank. “We already knew that it was okay to use 3HP and dolutegravir together in people experienced with HIV treatment. Now we know the same is true for people who are just starting HIV treatment for the first time. National governments should feel confident using 3HP in HIV programs, and donors, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund, should support countries in procuring 3HP as an essential part of the HIV clinical care package."

Note to editors:

About IMPAACT4TB

The Increasing Market and Public Health Outcomes Through Scaling Up Affordable Access Models of Short Course Preventive Therapy for TB (IMPAACT4TB) Consortium is led by the Aurum Institute and comprised of Unitaid, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Johns Hopkins University, KNCV the Dutch TB Foundation and the Treatment Action Group (TAG).

People living with HIV (PLHIV) and child contacts are at highest risk of contracting TB. The initial IMPAACT4TB grant looked at the safety of co-administering and dosing of 3HP and DTG and, once that was ascertained, the project moved on to introduce and roll out 3HP as an additional TPT option among PLHIV and household contacts of TB patients in 12 low-middle income countries, namely: Brazil, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Indonesia, South Africa, India, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana and Tanzania.

Although the project was focused in these 12 countries, efforts were also made to ensure wider access to 3HP. These efforts saw over 70 additional countries procuring 3HP for use among eligible populations. The grant also funded studies on the use of 3HP in ART-naive patients on DTG-based regimens (DOLPHIN TOO), dosing of 3HP in children from 0-2 years (TBTC Study 35) and improved TPT service delivery, as

well as community advocacy for improved TPT policy and uptake within project countries. www.impaact4tb.org

About Unitaid:

Unitaid saves lives by making new health products available and affordable for people in low- and middle-income countries. Unitaid works with partners to identify innovative treatments, tests and tools; helps tackle the market barriers that are holding them back; and gets them to the people who need them most — fast. Since it was created in 2006, Unitaid has unlocked access to more than 100 groundbreaking health products to help address the world’s greatest health challenges, including HIV, TB and malaria; women’s and children’s health; and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Every year, these products benefit more than 170 million people. Unitaid is a hosted partnership of the World Health Organization. www.unitaid.org

About Aurum Institute

The Aurum Institute is a proudly African organisation working to advance health, science and innovation to create a healthier world for future generations. We partner with governments, the private sector and civil society to design and deliver high-quality care and treatment to people in developing communities. www.auruminstitute.org


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