Task Force for Global Health

The Task Force for Global Health is a supra-national non-governmental organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America, with a field office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

TFGH is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a non-State actor, allowing them to operate with tremendous influence in official relations with the “global entity.”¹⁾ It is a formal partner of the United Nations.²⁾

The Task Force has a wide portfolio of influential global health programs.

Additionally, the Task Force launched their Council for Opportunity, Diversity and Equity (CODE) to “become a role model by being actively engaged in diversity and equity efforts, and to help foster a sense of belonging in our organization and community through education, action, and public health services.”

Teri McClure is the Board Chair, and Dave Ross is the President and Chief Executive Officer.³⁾ The Board of Directors includes representatives from Atlantic Capital Bank, Emory University School of Medicine, Ernst & Young, Evidation Health, Hewlett Packard, the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, and UPS.

Some of the Task Force's major partners include:

The Task Force has received donations from many pharmaceutical companies and other notable entities, including Abbott, AbbVie, American Endowment Foundation, Bayer, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, BioScience, Bruyere Research Institute, Catholic Health Association, Center for Compassionate Leadership, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CDC Foundation, Center for Global Health Innovation, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Dexcom, Eagle Medical Services, Eisai, Emory University, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Hewlett Packard, Hiroshima University, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA), Izumi Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, Medical Bridges, MedShare, MedWish, Merck, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, National Health Institute, Novartis, Pfizer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Roche, Sanofi Espoir Foundation, Scripps, Seqirus, Siemens Healthcare, Stanford University, Supplies Over Seas, Templeton World Charity Foundation, U.K. Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (UK Aid), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Department of State, U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), United Nations Children’s Fund, Wellcome Trust, and the World Health Organization (WHO).⁴⁾

TFGH was founded in 1984 as The Task Force for Child Survival by former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Bill Foege and his colleagues Carol Walters and Bill Watson, with the specific goal of raising low childhood immunization rates in developing countries. The Task Force’s founding partners were the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Rockefeller Foundation, the World Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme.⁵⁾

In 1987, TFGH participates in the launch of the Mectizan Donation Program to treat river blindness in developing countries. Mectizan is a brand name for ivermectin, with millions of doses donated by Merck since its founding.⁶⁾

In 1991, the organization changed its name to The Task Force for Child Survival and Development.

In 1992, the TFCSD launched All Kids Count to develop community-based immunization registries in the United States of America.

In 1995, the TFCSD began to work with partners to build the Polio Eradication Laboratory Network, which had started in 1990.⁷⁾

In 1998, the Task Force hosted the Conference on Global Disease Elimination and Eradication as Public Health Strategies.⁸⁾

Between 1999 and 2001, Bill Foege served as Senior Medical Advisor for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. During his time, he became a close friend and mentor to Bill and Melinda.⁹⁾ In 2000, Foege stepped down as executive director and is succeeded by Mark Rosenberg.¹⁰⁾

In 2002, All Kids Count spawns the Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII) to “strengthen public health’s approach to conceiving and using information systems.”¹¹⁾

In 2005, the Mebendazole Donation Initiative (later renamed Children Without Worms) is launched with support from Johnson & Johnson to reduce the burden of soil-transmitted helminth infections (intestinal worms) in school-aged children in Africa, Asia, and Central America. The Polio Antiviral Drugs Initiative is formed to support polio eradication. The Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center (later becoming the Neglected Tropical Diseases Support Center) moved from Emory University to the Task Force.

In 2007, the African Health Workforce Project became part of the Task Force.

In 2008, the Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET) merges with The Task Force. The Task Force moves to a new headquarters building in Decatur, Georgia.

In 2009, the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) merges with the Task Force and begins scaling up efforts to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem. The Task Force changes its name to The Task Force for Global Health.

In 2011, the Center for Vaccine Equity (now consisting of the Partnership for Influenza Vaccine Introduction, Polio Eradication Center, Global Funders Consortium for Universal Influenza Vaccine Development, the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, and the Brighton Collaboration) is founded to “provide all people with equal access to vaccines and to reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases.” In 2013, the Partnership for Influenza Vaccine Introduction (PIVI) is launched to increase uptake of seasonal influenza vaccines in low- and middle-income countries.

In 2013, the Task Force receives the $2-million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, the world’s largest humanitarian award. Mark Rosenberg retires as president and chief executive officer. He is succeeded by Dave Ross.

In 2018, the Task Force moves to its new headquarters in downtown Decatur. At this point, fifteen programs now share The Task Force umbrella including the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy, MedSurplus Alliance, and the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination.