[Viva] Fwd: Impact of COVID-19 hits hard as TB deaths among people living with HIV rise for the first time since 2006

Wed Mar 23 10:23:43 PDT 2022

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From: UNAIDS <communications at unaids.org>
Date: Wed, Mar 23, 2022 at 10:22 AM
Subject: Impact of COVID-19 hits hard as TB deaths among people living with
HIV rise for the first time since 2006
To: <dbecker106 at gmail.com>

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*PRESS STATEMENT*
*Impact of COVID-19 hits hard as TB deaths among people living with HIV
rise for the first time since 2006*

*On World Tuberculosis Day 2022, UNAIDS is calling for urgency in
diagnosing and treating TB as TB deaths among people living with HIV rise
for the first time after years of progressive decline*

*GENEVA, 23 March 2022—*Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death
among people living with HIV, accounting for around one third of
AIDS-related deaths globally. Coordinated and scaled up efforts to prevent,
diagnose and treat the two diseases had resulted in a 68% decline in TB
deaths among people living with HIV between 2006 and 2019. However, in its 2021
Global Tuberculosis Report
<https://unaids.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f40a9f8808ca831128eb0af44&id=31cdc90a4f&e=dd27280564>,
the World Health Organization announced that TB deaths among people living
with HIV increased for the first time in 13 years, from 209 000 in 2019 to
214 000 in 2020.

“The increase in TB deaths among people living with HIV is alarming and
demonstrates the fragility of pandemic progress,” said Winnie Byanyima,
Executive Director of UNAIDS. “When COVID-19 hit, global attention on HIV
and TB shifted as the world focused on tackling the new pandemic. This has
meant lives needlessly lost and important targets missed for HIV, TB and
other diseases. Urgent action and increased investments are needed to get
us back on track.”

People living with HIV are 18 times more likely to develop TB disease.
Although around 85% of people who develop TB disease can be successfully
treated, the treatment success rates for people living with HIV are much
lower, at around 77%. This demonstrates the importance of scaling up
prevention efforts as well as treatment for the two diseases.

Concerted and collective action in this area has saved lives in recent
years. Between 2018 and 2020, some 7.5 million people living with HIV were
given preventive TB treatment, surpassing the global target of 6 million.
But much more needs to be done to address the underlying inequalities that
continue to fuel the spread of HIV and TB.

Refugees and displaced people are at particularly high risk of developing
TB. At the end of 2020, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees estimated that 82.4 million people
<https://unaids.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f40a9f8808ca831128eb0af44&id=2f0fee7bbb&e=dd27280564>
around
the world were displaced from their homes. The war in Ukraine has already
forced 3.5 million people to flee the country and millions more are
internally displaced. It is critical that Ukraine and its neighbouring
countries receive urgent support to provide essential health services for
people affected by the war, including services for TB and HIV.

“In this time of crisis, there is an opportunity to build a
pandemic-resilient future if leaders work together to tackle the
inequalities that endanger us all,” said Ms Byanyima. “While AIDS, TB and
COVID-19 each spread in unique ways, we are watching as each is driven by
social and economic inequality that leaves some communities more vulnerable
and the whole world at risk. We can address those inequalities, or we can
let these pandemics continue—the power is in our hands.”

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) is
the leading international funder of TB programmes; however, COVID-19 has
had a devastating impact. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of people
treated for TB in the countries where the Global Fund invests fell by
around 1 million. This year, at its seventh replenishment, the Global Fund
is calling for an additional US$ 18 billion to save 20 million lives
<https://unaids.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f40a9f8808ca831128eb0af44&id=3cbf241750&e=dd27280564>
and
get the world back on track towards ending HIV, TB and malaria. To end the
three diseases by 2030 and build strong national health systems to respond
to emerging pandemics, it is essential that the Global Fund be fully funded.

UNAIDS is continuing to work with partners to reach the HIV/TB targets set
for 2025
<https://unaids.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f40a9f8808ca831128eb0af44&id=22a5368cd9&e=dd27280564>,
which include ensuring that 90% of people living with HIV receive
preventive treatment for TB and reducing TB-related deaths among people
living with HIV by 80% (from a 2010 baseline). To make this happen will
require the Global Fund to be fully funded and that investments be made in
research and development, in expanding services as well as in adopting new
and innovative strategies to reach everyone in need.
*UNAIDS*
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires
the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero
discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of
11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO,
UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national
partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Learn more at unaids.org
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*Contacts*

UNAIDS Geneva
Sophie Barton-Knott
tel. +41 79 514 68 96
bartonknotts at unaids.org

UNAIDS Media
tel. +41 22 791 4237
communications at unaids.org

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