The Takeda Initiative is an endowment made by Takeda Pharmaceutical, with an annual value of JPY 100,000,000 (approximately USD 1 million). It is designed to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria over the period 2010-2019, primarily for the training of health care workers and strengthening of health care systems in Africa.

Controlling the spread of the three major infectious diseases is one of the eight targets set by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The lack of trained health care workers is particularly severe in Africa, and poses a major obstacle to providing the health care services required to combat infectious diseases. The Takeda Initiative is contributing to Global Fund-supported programs in Africa, to enhance health care systems mainly through training and strengthening the competence of individuals involved in providing health care.

During the first phase, the initiative will focus on:

Nigeria (target disease: HIV/AIDS): Scale-up of comprehensive HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support, training staff members of not-for-profit and grass-roots organizations engaged in providing community-based care for HIV/AIDS patients and orphans, and advocacy and awareness increasing activities;

Senegal (target disease: tuberculosis): Reinforce tuberculosis control by training health workers engaged in tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment;

Tanzania (target disease: malaria): Support the National Insecticide Treated Nets Implementation Plan (NATNETS) by strengthening the system to distribute insecticide treated nets and by developing the human resources engaged in promoting the use of nets.