Empowering Communities for TB/HIV Advocacy

1. Empowering Communities for TB/HIV Advocacy TAG/ICW-EA MODEL

2. Background • TB is the leading cause of needless death and illness among PLHIV and especially in Sub Saharan Africa. • Of 1.4m. TB/HIV co infected people in 2008, 78% are in Sub Saharan Africa. • PLHIV are more likely to have • Increased risk of TB disease progression • Smear negative pulmonary TB • Extra pulmonary TB • Communities are vital partners for implementers in addressing TB, MDR and TB/HIV

3. ICW/TAG MODEL • The Model is composed of 5 key components: i) selection of activists, ii) capacity building workshops, iii) ongoing support, iv) highlighting activists work at global and regional foras, and (v) on going evaluations so as to strengthen the model. • The model recognizes the importance building activists knowledge in TB science and policy .

4. Key Results • 49 activists have focused on improving TB/HIV services such as including scaling up intensified TB case finding among PWHIV, TB drug stock outs, infection control, and isoniazid preventive therapy • 90% of the activists reported to develop educational TB/HIV materials for communities based on content of the workshops • Increased visibility of activist’s impact at global, national and regional levels • Participation of activists in the global, regional and national committees and boards, Eg. Global Fund, STBP, CCM • Activists monitored the availability and accessibility of TB, TB/HIV activities through the 2009 UNGASS shadow reports. .

5. Recommendations • Enhancing activists capacity to understand TB science is key TB/HIV advocacy • TB/HIV advocacy need to be resourced. • On going support is important in sustaining advocacy knowledge and advocacy efforts

6. July 20th Tuesday Human Rights March – meet at 7.30 on the university steps at Schottentor July 22nd TB/HIV March meet at the Global Village by the Youth Pavilion at 12:15pm THANK YOU