AIDS leaders call on advocates to join together to fight AIDS and TB in Melbourne
The 2014 International AIDS Conference in Melbourne concluded on 25th July with a renewed commitment by the AIDS community to unite efforts against AIDS and TB. Addressing the 14,000 delegates attending the conference during the opening ceremony, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé said “We cannot run away from the TB epidemic among people with HIV. All our efforts to keep people with HIV alive will be lost if they die from TB.”
The conference featured the
launch of a new report
on 22nd July by the ACTION global health partnership evaluating
donor’s implementation of joint HIV-TB programs in line
with the World Health Organization’s (WHO)
recommendations.
The report recognized the leadership
of the Global Fund to Fights AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and
PEPFAR in implementing joint HIV-TB policies, while noting that
other donors have been slow to implement the policies
recommended by WHO. Dr Joanne Carter, Vice-Chair of the Stop TB
Partnership Board, noted that despite TB killing 1 in 5 people
living with HIV, many HIV programs are failing to prioritize
joint HIV-TB programs that are essential to further progress.
Dr.
Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund, said at the
report launch, “The reality is that in Sub-Saharan Africa,
HIV and tuberculosis are one disease. We must address them
together.”
Former U.S. President President Bill Clinton also highlighted
the importance of integrating HIV and TB services during his
keynote address, citing a 97% reduction of TB cases in a
project in Vietnam that increased availability of AIDS and
tuberculosis medicines at health centres.
The
conference featured over 30 sessions, press conferences and
workshops on joint HIV-TB topics - a record number reflecting
the growing international momentum to increase collaboration
among HIV and TB programs. Sessions were organized by the Stop
TB Partnership, WHO, The World Bank, RESULTS, TB Alliance,
Aeras, TAG and others. The TB-HIV Networking Zone was another
highlight, joining together TB and AIDS advocates for the first
time at an AIDS conference. More information on the Stop TB
Partnership’s activities can be viewed
here.
