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New WHO data show alarming increase in TB-HIV co-infection

Report shows that HIV programs are failing to fund and monitor programs

Washington, D.C. — On World Tuberculosis Day, March 24, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) will release new data showing a dramatic increase in people living with HIV/AIDS who are also co-infected with tuberculosis (TB). Following the release of the WHO's annual report, RESULTS Educational Fund will release a report written by Advocacy to Control Tuberculosis Internationally (ACTION) that shows the world's largest funders of HIV programs are failing to ensure vital programs are adequately addressing TB, the biggest health threat to people living with HIV/AIDS. These two reports come amid deep concern among global health advocates that the Obama administration will shortchange vital HIV/AIDS and TB programs, as the global recession deepens. Embargoed data from the WHO will be available through their communications office on March 20, 2009.

Richard Chaisson, MD, of the Consortium to Respond Effectively to the AIDS/TB Epidemic (CREATE), along with Carol Hamilton, M.D., co-chair of the Infectious Diseases Center for Global Health Policy and Advocacy (IDSA), will participate in a teleconference hosted by RESULTS Educational Fund (REF) and IDSA that will focus on both the WHO data and the ACTION report. After initial statements by the speakers, the call will be opened for questions from the media.

What: Media teleconference to discuss new stats on TB-HIV co-infection

Who: Richard Chaisson, MD — director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Tuberculosis Research, Director of CREATE — the Consortium to Respond Effectively to the AIDS/TB Epidemic, and a member of IDSA's Global ID Scientific Advisory Committee

Carol Dukes Hamilton, MD — co-chair of the Infectious Diseases Center for Global Health Policy and Advocacy and a professor of medicine at Duke University

Paul Jensen — global research coordinator for RESULTS Educational Fund

Joanne Carter, moderator — executive director of RESULTS Educational Fund

When: Tuesday, March 24, 2009, at 12:30 p.m. EDT / 4:30 p.m. GMT by teleconference

How: This call is for journalists only, who can call in from any phone. RSVP by contacting Blair Hinderliter at bhinderliter@results.org or at the number listed above. To participate in the call, dial 1-888-337-8202 or 1-913-312-0869 from outside the U.S. The passcode is 8005490. Ask for the "World TB Day Call." A transcript will also be available, and a replay will be available for seven days by calling 1-719-457-0820 or 1-888-203-1112, passcode 8005490.

The Global ID Center is an organization of physicians and scientists dedicated to promoting the effective use of U.S. funding for addressing the global HIV/AIDS and TB epidemics by providing scientific and policy information to policymakers, federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the media. The Center, a project of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and its sister organization, the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA), is based in Arlington, Va.

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