TB, not HIV, that’s killing people, says World Health

People infected with HIV are no longer dying from the virus but from tuberculosis infections, an expert says.
Out of 100 people who are infected every year, 20 people would die by the end of the year because TB infections were not managed and treated well, said World Health Organisation representative Dr Anup Gurung said.
“We need to see how we would manage and deal with HIV and TB together, in order to be effective to control the epidemic,” he said.
“PNG is also developing drug-resistant TB and has one of the highest incidences in the world.
“The country still has miles to go in addressing the epidemic, because PNG is second-highest with drug-resistant TB in the world.
“The country has the new infection rate at 5 per cent a year and the number of new infections is increasing every year.
“Of four people who are infected, only one knows his or her status while three do not know their status. We need outreach campaigns, mobile testing in communities to ensure those on treatment are on treatment for a long time – their whole lifetime.
“The key population and the marginalised population needs to be looked after because they are the most affected.
“People living with HIV are already having their voices heard, and that is the right way to work together to effectively address the epidemic.
“Capacity-building of communities is vital as efforts can’t work without community support.
“That is the hope for PNG.”
National Aids Council Secretariat director Nick Dala said 1000 people died of HIV-related illnesses annually with 2500 new infections, “because nobody wants to talk about it”.