Strong stand against stigma and discrimination, India cut 84% TB deaths in AIDS patients by 2017

New Delhi, Mar 25: TB is the top infectious killer worldwide, claiming around 4,400 lives a day. TB also remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, causing one in three AIDS-related deaths.

On World TB Day, As per the UNAIDS report, India successfully cut 84% TB deaths in AIDS patients by 2017.

In 2017, 1.6 million people died from TB, including around 3,00,000 people living with HIV. India achieved the highest recorded decline among over 20 nations and three years ahead of the 2020 deadline, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said.

 

On World Tuberculosis Day which observed on Sunday, UNAIDS is urging countries to step up action to meet the 2020 target of reducing TB deaths among people living with HIV by 75%, as outlined in the 2016 United Nations Political Declaration on Ending AIDS.

World Health Organisation estimates show that, globally, TB deaths among people living with HIV have fallen by 42% since 2010, from 520,000 down to 300,000 in 2017. The estimates show that, by 2017, five low or middle-income countries achieved or exceeded the target of a 75% reduction in TB deaths among people living with HIV, three years ahead of schedule. India achieved the highest reduction at 84%, followed by Eritrea (83 %), Djibouti (78%) and Malawi (78%).

 

UNAIDS said, An additional 18 countries reduced TB deaths among people living with HIV by more than 50% and are on track to achieve the target by the end of 2020, provided that scale-up of services is maintained. However, the estimates also show that most countries are not on track and that deaths are rising in some regions and countries.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidib expressed, “TB should be a disease of the past. It has been treatable and preventable for decades. Years of neglecting the rights of the world's poor to basic health care, food and shelter have let TB take hold and allowed resistance to build”.

Further, he added, People living with HIV are especially at risk. There is still a chance for many countries to meet the target, but we have to act now? it's time to end TB and AIDS.

UNAIDS reports clearly showed that the lack of progress in some countries is a clear indication that further efforts are needed to address the main challenges, including the need for equity and ensuring that vulnerable groups have access to integrated HIV and TB services. In order to accelerate progress in reducing TB deaths among people living with HIV and reach the 2020 target, UNAIDS is urging countries to fully integrate TB and HIV services and to use community-based approaches to find, diagnose and treat the missing cases.

UNAIDS stated that countries need to screen all people living with HIV for TB and all people with TB need to be tested for HIV. The quality of TB and HIV diagnosis also needs to be improved. In addition, all people diagnosed with TB and HIV need immediate access to treatment and support to adhere to their treatment regimens.

Sibid said, "Although progress is mixed, we can see that the target can be met, and a large number of countries can get there if they act with urgency and use focused community-based approaches”.

With less than two years to achieve the target, UNAIDS is urging all countries to step up action and partners to work together to ensure that all people affected by HIV and TB have access to effective prevention and treatment services.