The TB/HIV Control will help community groups strengthen demand for services that fight both TB and HIV. All people with HIV need access to effective TB prevention and treatment. TB programs can also serve as entry points for HIV testing and antiretroviral treatment. From a public health standpoint, the spreading HIV pandemic prevents the achievement of global TB control goals, and growing TB rates hamper global AIDS efforts.The World Health Organization estimates that 11 million of the world's 42 million HIV-infected persons are co-infected with TB, majority of them reside in sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, while TB is preventable, treatable, and curable among both HIV-infected and uninfected people, there is a need that these patients should have an access to the global standard of care for TB disease, directly-observed therapy short-course, or DOTS.

We can't effectively fight HIV/AIDS without also fighting TB. Groups involved in HIV/AIDS community education and mobilization are a critical untapped resource in the fight against TB/HIV co-infection. The Non Governmental organizations have played a major role in increasing political support and resources for fighting the global AIDS epidemic. Engaging them in the fight against the joint TB-HIV epidemic will help millions of people who suffer from both diseases.

The TB/HIV Project will educate advocates and community organizations about TB/HIV, and develop strategies for expanding efforts to fight the two epidemics. The project will convene an annual global TB/HIV advocacy workshop, as well as satellite meetings at existing TB and HIV conferences. The project will also produce a research and policy strategy, educational materials on TB/HIV for community-based leaders and organizations, and resource mobilization proposals developed in collaboration with community groups and NGOs from high-burden countries to fund in-country TB/HIV education and advocacy efforts.

Additional funds will be made available by the Donors for the  Public Health Program to support community-based TB/HIV advocacy activities in countries affected by TB/HIV co infection. This will help us put programs on the ground where they are most needed.