ABSTRACT
I. Introduction The World Health Organization’s (WHO) new Stop TB Strategy recognizes that the pandemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the spread of drug-resistant TB are the greatest threats to global tuberculosis (TB) control (1). Similarly, TB is the commonest cause of morbidity and mortality in people living with HIV in Africa and a significant cause in the rest of the world, despite being largely preventable and curable. The increasing overlap between the epidemics of HIV and drug-resistant TB is of even greater global concern with potentially disastrous consequences for global TB and HIV control (2,3). Despite these threats, there are opportunities. Greater collaboration between the TB and HIV programs can bring benefits to both programs and the communities they serve. Implementation of the “Three I’s for HIV/TB” (intensified TB case finding, isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), and infection control), as an integral part of HIV care can reduce the burden of TB among people living with HIV (4). Furthermore, wellresourced TB programs can play an important role in scaling up towards universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care services.
