In 1985, the Canadian Lung Association gave the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (IUATLD) nearly US $100,000 in support of its Mutual Assistance Program, for the purpose of helping less developed countries establish and maintain anti-tuberculosis programs at the national and regional levels. $70,000 of this money was spent in Ottawa, on the establishment of an international course on the bacteriology of tuberculosis and the provision of technical information on the management of tuberculosis control programs.

The objectives of the program were threefold:

• To provide fundamental knowledge on microbiology applicable to basic techniques of a tuberculosis laboratory

• To give practical training in methods of culture, differentiation of mycobacteria and drug sensitivity tests

• To provide technical and managerial bases to enable participants to organize bacteriological diagnosis, personnel training and supervision and laboratory surveillance, within the framework of a TB program integrated into the comprehensive health systems of developing countries