Call for Action on HIV TB

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CALL FOR ACTION on HIV TB

" HIV TB GLOBAL LEADERS' FORUM "

We, the participants of the first HIV TB Global Leaders' Forum, meeting at the

United Nations in New York on 9 June 2008,

* Recalling the General Assembly Political Resolution on AIDS (2006)

emphasizing the need for accelerated scale-up of collaborative activities on

tuberculosis and HIV, the Millennium Development Goal targets for TB, and the

World Health Assembly Resolution (2007), requesting countries to immediately

address extensively drug-resistant TB and HIV-related TB as the highest health

priorities, in line with the Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-2015;

* Concerned that every three minutes a person living with HIV dies

of TB;

* Noting that HIV and TB are major constraints for socio-economic

development and that investing in joint TB and HIV/AIDS interventions, will

contribute positively to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals on

poverty reduction by keeping people healthy and productive;

* Recognizing the importance of investments in a strong domestic

health system in the delivery of universal TB and HIV prevention, treatment,

care and support services;

* Mindful of global security issues and the new challenges

associated with the emergence of drug resistant strains of TB that are

particularly lethal in populations with high rates of HIV infection;

* Aware of the urgent need for new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines

that are appropriate for people with HIV TB co-infection;

* Aknowledging there is an urgent need for community influencers and

leaders to understand the critical aspects of TB prevention and care in

communities, to fight stigma and discrimination, and to provide an enabling

environment for patients to access and utilize treatment services with human

dignity;

* Confirming that saving lives among people living with HIV and

cutting mortality associated with TB requires bold leadership at all levels;

URGE all UN Member States, and CALLS ON Organizations of the United Nations

system; intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, the corporate

sector, foundations, donors and the international community as a whole:

To reaffirm their commitment to the global fight against HIV TB and in

country statements, during remarks, roundtables and discussions to:

* Commit the resources necessary to halve the number of people living

with HIV who die unnecessarily of TB annually by 2015;

* Support TB prevention diagnosis, and treatment within the context of

universal access and include TB prevention, diagnostics, treatment and

adherence in all national HIV action frameworks and strategies;

* Prevent unnecessary deaths by including the goal of reducing TB

mortality in people living with HIV as part of the indicators in national target

setting;

* Promote a person-centered approach, that is " one life - two

diseases " ; and ensure PLHIV are able to attend health services without fear of

contracting TB;

* Mobilize communities and wider civil society affected by HIV in the

TB response;

* Include systematically TB and HIV TB as part of broader development

and poverty reduction strategies and strengthen health systems to be able to

effectively respond to the need; and

* Accelerate research and to promote the development of better tools -

drugs, diagnostics and a vaccine - for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of

TB, in particular for those living with HIV.

REQUESTS THE SECRETARY GENERAL (through his Special Envoy to Stop TB):

* To report regularly on progress in addressing HIV TB to the UN

General Assembly Special Session on the HIV/AIDS Epidemic, High Level

Meetings on HIV/AIDS and other important meetings convened by the United Nations

System.

* To report back on progress at the Stop TB Partnership Partner's

Forum, to be held in March 2009 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

(First HIV TB Global Leaders' Forum, 9th June 2008, New York)

Cross posted: Stop TB Partnership

Forwarded by:

A.SANKAR

Executive Director

EMPOWER.

107J / 133E, puram

TUTICORIN-628 008, INDIA

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