Remembering people who use drugs on World TB Day

Worldwide, over 1 million people die from TB each year. It is one of the biggest killers of people living with HIV. People who inject drugs and people in prisons are disproportionately affected by this curable disease, and remain less likely than the general population to have access to TB diagnosis and treatment.

WHO, UNODC and UNAIDS recognise the need to increase access to these essential services and include TB diagnosis and treatment as part of the comprehensive package of interventions for people who inject drugs. In order to reach people who use drugs with these services, they need to be integrated into existing HIV and harm reduction services. People who use drugs must not be forgotten in the calls for increased access to TB testing and treatment.

To read more about World TB Day (24th March 2010) and work around the world on increasing access to TB services, visit the Stop TB Partnership's website here.

Also look out for the chapter on TB and drug use in the upcoming Global State of Harm Reduction report from IHRA.