Living with HIV, dying of TB

December 1st, Today on World AIDS DAY, millions of people living with HIV/AIDS are at risk of dying of tuberculosis (TB), Although treatable in most cases, TB is the world`s leading killer of people living with HIV.

Worryingly, new drug-resistant strains of TB are emerging that are particular and growing risk. These strains are almost always fatal in people who are HIV-positive.

Journalists urge Biya administration to act on political commitment


The deadly synergy of HIV-TB presents a massive public health threat. On WORLD AIDS Day, stop Aids campaign a UK based charity highlight that it is not possible to achieve zero deaths of people suffering from AIDS without also tackling those dying of TB.



The UK coalition to stop TB and the UK stop aids campaign call on the UK government to make TB and HIV a joint public health priority and to tackle the epidemics together.
The Cameroonian journalist network against Aids also call on Biya government to renew his commitment to make free access to Arv's a reality in Cameroon.

Political commitment is desperately needed. Millions of cfa francs have been spent on policies and on the implementation of policies rather than on people living with HIV in Cameroon. Millions have been spent on cars purchasing, commissions and missions around the country and organizing workshops but less directly on those in real need

( Le reseau des journalistes contre le sida) in Cameroon joint his voice with others organisations and charities around the world today to urge governments to ensure integrated HIV-TB policies are part of its global HIV strategy an d within its plans to improve women`s and maternal health. TB is the third biggest infectious killer of women worldwide.

Just half of pregnant women with HIV in Cameroon get the drugs necessary to stop their babies becoming infected at birth. UNICEF now is distributing a pack full of drugs that will help pregnant women testing positive for HIV.

Women are being given a box containing all the drugs needed to protect their baby from infection, with clear instructions on when and how they should be used. The pack is being tested in Cameroon

It is essential Cameroon government step up its commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, an effective, transparent and results-focused organization. In the eight years since it was established, the Global Fund has provided anti-retroviral HIV/AIDS treatment to 2.8 million ,

and successfully treated 7 million people with TB. People are living with HIV but dying of TB. This dual epidemic can be reversed and million of lives saved.