Reaching, treating and curing all those with TB especially the vulnerable groups and communities including women, children, people living with HIV, people with diabetes, refugees, miners and ex-miners, prisoners and drug users whose access to basic health care services may be limited is a critical part of the solution and we need to do more.
On this 24th March 2015, The International Community of Women living with HIV Eastern Africa joins the rest of the World to commemorate World TB Day. We are concerned that women living with HIV in East Africa continue to bear the burden of HIV as well as Tuberculosis (TB). Three (3) out of the five (5) East Africa countries, (ICWEA’s focus countries) are among the 22 TB High burden countries and this is unacceptable when TB is preventable and curable!!
This year’s theme is a call to Action! We have the people, tools and effective control measures to make it happen. What is in scarcity and unmatched that is urgently needed is the political will and commitment to find, treat and cure everyone.
WE call upon planners, policy makers in the region, those in charge of financial resource allocation, procurement and distribution of drugs, those responsible for management of medical supplies both at national and lower levels of health service delivery to ensure not only the constant availability of the drugs and logistics but that these are delivered in time and sufficient quantities and free of charge. They will lead to adherence by patients.
WE call upon our governments to step up domestic investments in TB and HIV and to prioritize interventions that work and show impact. Invest in community and health systems strengthening. Make good use of the opportunities like the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria New Funding model to invest for impact.
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