HIV-TB co-infection is on the increase in the city. And according to the Pune Municipal Corporation’s Tuberculosis control unit, in the last one year 232 people of 1,229 who had TB infection, were detected with HIV.

HIV infection has become a challenge for the control of TB and the government had decided to integrate services to TB and HIV patients by introducing a cross- referral system last year. Patients diagnosed with TB are offered testing for HIV; those testing positive undergo prophylactic treatment recommended by the World Health Organisation to ward off opportunistic infections like pneumonia.

However, there is still a reluctance among TB patients to be referred to counselling centres for HIV testing. From October 2008 till September this year, of 3,767 newly detected TB patients only 1,229 patients decided to undergo counselling and HIV testing. Of these, 232 were found to be HIV positive, said Dr Dilip Jagtap, Chief of PMC TB control unit.

Prevention of HIV is the priority for TB control programmes. Every year at least around 5,000 new TB patients add to the list in the city. Parents with children with TB infection are particularly reluctant to undergo HIV counselling and testing. Another risk group is married women who also shy away from HIV testing, said Jagtap.

However, the number of TB patients being referred to counselling centres has increased in the last couple of months. For instance, a total of 221 out of 964 TB patients were referred to the HIV counselling centres from October-December 2008. The number has doubled in the last three months from July to September where 418 out of 892 TB patients were referred for HIV testing.

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