Regional Strategic Plan on HIV/TB

The HIV epidemic has posed major challenges to tuberculosis (TB) control efforts globally. Increasing TB case rates over the past decade in many countries in sub- Saharan Africa are largely attributable to the HIV epidemic. The extent of the HIV/TB epidemic in South-East Asia will depend on the future course of the HIV epidemic, as well as on efforts to control TB. Preventing HIV-associated TB means going beyond the full implementation of DOTS. It includes preventing HIV infec- tion, preventing progression of latent TB infection to active disease and the provision of HIV/AIDS care and antiretroviral treatment (ART).

The goal of the HIV/TB strategy is to reduce HIV/TB- associated morbidity and mortality through collaboration between national AIDS and national TB programmes. The objectives are (1) to decrease the burden of TB among People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and (2) to decrease the burden of HIV in TB patients.