La creciente epidemia del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) ha dado un nuevo impulso a un viejo enemigo: la tuberculosis. La epidemia de VIH favorece la propagación de la tuberculosis y aumenta el riesgo de contraer esa enfermedad para toda la población. Para las personas seropositivas, el riesgo de tuberculosis es particularmente grande y el desenlace a menudo es mortal.

Annual report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Control 2008. This year's report shows that nearly 3/4 million people living with HIV fell ill with TB disease in 2006, confirming that TB is a major cause of illness and death in people living with HIV despite being mostly preventable and curable. Africa is yet again the most heavily affected continent, with 85% of the global burden of HIV-related TB.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of serious illness and death among people living with HIV, despite being curable and preventable. The need for an integrated approach to addressing HIV and TB (HIV/TB), as intersecting epidemics, is extremely urgent and increasing.

As the number of people living with HIV worldwide continues to grow, HIV-related illness remains a leading cause of death. It is likely to continue to be a significant cause of premature mortality in the coming decades. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) enables people to regain control over their lives, dignity, productivity and employment and contributes to reducing further transmission of HIV and tuberculosis (TB). People living with HIV have a basic human right to equitable access to quality, efficient and sustainable interventions for HIV prevention and treatment.

We live in a time of unprecedented hope for the 33.3 million people living with HIV worldwide. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) offers the promise of a full and fulfilling life. Now people living with HIV can raise their families, work and pursue their dreams. But a thief is in our midst—one that is routinely robbing people, and the countries they live in, of their futures. Every minute, three people living with HIV have their lives snatched away by tuberculosis (TB). Africa, hit hard by HIV, is also hit hard by TB. TB is the main cause of death in people living with HIV.