The TB/HIV Working Group
The TB/HIV Working Group, whose Secretariat is provided by the Global Tuberculosis Programme at WHO, was established in 2001 with the aim to coordinate, monitor, advise, collect and share information around the global response to the HIV associated TB epidemic.
The HIV pandemic presents a massive challenge to the global control of TB at all levels. Globally, TB is also the commonest presenting illness among people living with HIV (PLHIV) both before and after receiving antiretroviral therapy. The Working Group developed a core set of policy and program guidance based on the best available evidence to reduce the impact of the TB and HIV epidemics (Interim policy on collaborative TB/HIV activities, 2004 subsequently updated to the WHO Policy on collaborative TB/HIV activities). WHO began to monitor implementation of collaborative TB/HIV activities in 2004. In 2005, key TB/HIV elements were included in the WHO standard data collection form sent to 199 countries.
Ambassador Eric Goosby MD is Chair of the working group.