Health experts agree on steps for achieving Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria services

Abstract

About 50 experts in HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria who met here last week at the 3rd interagency meeting on coordination and harmonization of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Strategies, have agreed on broad steps for the final push for action for achieving the Abuja Call for Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Services by 2010. The meeting was co-organized by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission and UNAIDS, with the support of the World Health organization, and attended by UN agencies, civil society groups, regional economic communities, the Global Fund and the World Bank. The experts identified many priority actions in the final push, including leadership and governance; health systems, sexual transmission of HIV, scale up of anti retroviral therapy/prevention of mother to child transmission, elimination of pediatric HIV, treatment of drug-resistant TB and the strengthening of surveillance of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. “The crisis is having disproportionate negative impact on poorest groups and households living with HIV are particularly exposed,” said the experts, adding : “Vulnerable groups must be protected and social protection – including health insurance – measures can mitigate the impact of the diseases.”