UNGASS Statement on TB and HIV/AIDS
The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD)on the occasion of the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS
Commends the allocation of global funds for the care, treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS,tuberculosis and other infectious diseases as a necessary response to the devastating health and economic burden that many low-income countries bear due to these diseases.
IUATLD wishes to emphasise that:
· The Tuberculosis (TB) and AIDS epidemics are inextricably linked…
o TB is the most common opportunistic infection in people with AIDS
o TB is the first manifestation of AIDS in over 50% of cases in developing countries
o TB is the leading killer of people with AIDS
…we cannot hope to stop one epidemic without stopping the other.
· Curing TB in HIV/AIDS patients will immediately improve their quality of life and prevent further transmission of TB.
. Unlike HIV/AIDS, a low-cost cure already exists for TB and is being provided in the context of the internationally accepted DOTS strategy – expansion of DOTS is an urgent global priority.
· Success in TB control has been largely dependent on the strength of the whole health care system – investing in comprehensive strategies is crucial for the fight against TB and AIDS.
· A “Global TB Drug Facility” has recently been launched by the Stop TB partnership, a partnership hosted by WHO. It will facilitate access to TB drugs for countries with a high prevalence of TB to support DOTS expansion.
· Undue pharmaceutical and trade interests should be excluded from these global commitments to providing access to treatment, which should be considered as a basic human right.
IUATLD therefore requests that in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS:
Ø TB be specifically recognised as the most common opportunistic infection,which has a major impact on the health and lives of people with HIV/AIDS, yet can be cured at low cost.
Ø Expansion and improvement of the DOTS strategy for TB control, including the support of the Global TB Drug Facility, be acknowledged as an integral part of our efforts to confront the TB and AIDS epidemics and funds be allocated accordingly.
Source: http://www.tballiance.org/pdf/ungass_stmt.pdf
Commends the allocation of global funds for the care, treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS,tuberculosis and other infectious diseases as a necessary response to the devastating health and economic burden that many low-income countries bear due to these diseases.
IUATLD wishes to emphasise that:
· The Tuberculosis (TB) and AIDS epidemics are inextricably linked…
o TB is the most common opportunistic infection in people with AIDS
o TB is the first manifestation of AIDS in over 50% of cases in developing countries
o TB is the leading killer of people with AIDS
…we cannot hope to stop one epidemic without stopping the other.
· Curing TB in HIV/AIDS patients will immediately improve their quality of life and prevent further transmission of TB.
. Unlike HIV/AIDS, a low-cost cure already exists for TB and is being provided in the context of the internationally accepted DOTS strategy – expansion of DOTS is an urgent global priority.
· Success in TB control has been largely dependent on the strength of the whole health care system – investing in comprehensive strategies is crucial for the fight against TB and AIDS.
· A “Global TB Drug Facility” has recently been launched by the Stop TB partnership, a partnership hosted by WHO. It will facilitate access to TB drugs for countries with a high prevalence of TB to support DOTS expansion.
· Undue pharmaceutical and trade interests should be excluded from these global commitments to providing access to treatment, which should be considered as a basic human right.
IUATLD therefore requests that in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS:
Ø TB be specifically recognised as the most common opportunistic infection,which has a major impact on the health and lives of people with HIV/AIDS, yet can be cured at low cost.
Ø Expansion and improvement of the DOTS strategy for TB control, including the support of the Global TB Drug Facility, be acknowledged as an integral part of our efforts to confront the TB and AIDS epidemics and funds be allocated accordingly.
Source: http://www.tballiance.org/pdf/ungass_stmt.pdf
posted by AIDS-Care-Watch at 2:53 pm
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