TB TB 2020: Time for solidarity

At this unique time in history when the world is facing the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization’s Division of the Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Program stands in solidarity with governments and communities as they strive to maintain health services
continue to address the needs of patients with HIV and tuberculosis (TB).

Although preventable and curable, tuberculosis is still the world’s largest infectious killer and the leading cause of death among people living with HIV (PLHIV), responsible for 32% of the 770,000 lives lost to HIV in 2018. People
those living with HIV are far more vulnerable (almost 20 times more) to TB than people without HIV and are three times more likely to die during treatment.

While there are proven interventions that reduce tuberculosis mortality – such as providing preventative TB treatment, adopting new diagnostics for early TB diagnosis and treatment relatedness, and antiretroviral therapies (ART) – we are far behind
in reducing these increases, and diagnostic and medical deficiencies remain, with only half of the estimated cases of TB among HIV coming into 2018, only half of the estimated PLHIVs suffering from TB receiving ART, and fewer of half of new HIV-positive people on treatment for TB treatment
treatment in a subset of reporting countries worldwide.

On this World TBO Day, WHO highlights two key interventions to reduce unnecessary TB mortality among HIV:

• (1) providing preventative TB treatment for all persons treated with HIV; and
• (2) increased use of newer diagnostic tests such as the lipoarabinomannan urinary flow test (TB-LAM.)

HIV programs are being encouraged to provide preventative treatment for tuberculosis, including shorter WHO-recommended regimens, and updated guidelines will be launched today, are provided to anyone suffering from HIV as part of a routine care package, including the provision of ART, and that completion of treatment is assured.