Health Surveillance and Disease Prevention and Control / Communicable Diseases / Tuberculosis
Fifth Regional Meeting on TB/HIV Collaborative Activities(San José, Costa Rica, 6–7 November 2008) | ||||
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- Meeting Objectives Introduction: The growing epidemic of HIV infection represents a great challenge for TB control at all levels. In addition, TB constitutes one of the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality among people who live with HIV. Thus, TB/HIV coinfection represents a serious threat to the attainment of the programming and clinical objectives of both TB and HIV programs. Currently, there is an established policy for TB/HIV collaborative activities that helps guide which actions to take to relieve the simultaneous burden of tuberculosis and HIV. Meeting Objectives
Participants: Heads of National TB and of HIV Programs from 20 countries of the Region, accompanied by the PAHO Focal Points in the countries and PAHO Regional TB and HIV Program teams. Central Focus: Emphasis was placed on the importance of establishing joint agendas for interprogrammatic work as an effective tool to diminish the HIV/AIDS burden among patients with TB and the TB burden among people infected with HIV. It was shown that, although there has been great progress in the implementation of TB/HIV collaborative activities, there are still areas that need to be strengthened, such as joint evaluation of TB/HIV activities, implementation of preventive therapy with cotrimoxazole for TB patients with HIV, and surveillance of the prevalence of HIV in patients with TB. The Three I's: It was recognized that the three I's constitute a key priority in caring for people with HIV and present a great opportunity to diminish morbidity, mortality and t TB transmission among people with HIV. In this regard, it becomes necessary to significantly intensify the search for TB among people with HIV, in addition to increasing the implementation of preventive therapy with isoniazide and to make progress towards infection control in health facilities. Key Points: Noteworthy were the strengths that the countries of the Region have to achieve this purpose, as well as the challenges and weaknesses that should be overcome in order to address this double epidemic through combined efforts. The countries in attendance made commitments to move ahead with TB/HIV collaborative activities in the following eight months, up to the time when the next Regional meeting will be held. Intersectoral Call for Action: An appeal was made to civil society, affected persons, and activists to get involved in TB/HIV collaborative activities of collaboration. An agreement was made for TB/HIV coinfection to be a made priority in both programs (TB and HIV) in the countries. | ||||
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Presentations (PPT PDF) |
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Final Report (in Spanish, PDF, 31 pp, 1.3 Mb; chapter headings translated below for user orientation)
Conclusions | Recommendations PAHO Links WHO Links |
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