BD and PEPFAR Collaborate to Strengthen Laboratory Systems in Fight Against HIV/A...( Public-Private Partnership Valued...),Health

Public-Private Partnership Valued up to $18 Million over Five Years

WASHINGTON and FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Emergency Plan/PEPFAR) joined BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding today to establish a public-private partnership to improve overall laboratory systems and services in African countries severely affected by HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB).

PEPFAR is the largest international health initiative ever undertaken by a single country. Under the Emergency Plan, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is the lead implementing agency for strengthening laboratory systems. BD is a leading global medical technology company with technical expertise relating to laboratory systems. Today's formation of a public-private partnership between these organizations is the first of its kind, and will accelerate progress to build key health care infrastructure in Emergency Plan focus countries.

"I applaud the work of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and BD in coming together to form this public-private partnership. By joining hands in our individual efforts to help host nations develop robust laboratory facilities, we will maximize the effect our limited resources can have," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "This is exactly the kind of partnership that can produce sustainable improvements, and I hope many such partnerships will follow."

"By joining forces with private sector companies like BD and working in partnership with host nations, we will achieve more in the fight against HIV/AIDS and TB together than we can alone," said Ambassador Mark Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. "PEPFAR supports national health authorities and non- governmental organizations - including local faith-and community-based organizations - that ca
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