It is an honor for the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to be invited to attend this Board as an international organization observer. The Convention has 180 Parties and covers more than 90% of the global population.
Smoking causes complications for those living with HIV/AIDS. People with HIV are more likely to develop tobacco-related diseases and also infections, such as pneumonia. Cessation impacts on quality of life and life expectancy among people with HIV with studies showing that reduction of life expectancy from smoking, possibly outweighs the loss from HIV infection itself. Bottom line is that cessation of tobacco use could become an important element of HIV treatment programs.
Article 14 of the WHO FCTC and guidelines recommend Parties to consider “using existing infrastructure that would provide the greatest possible access for tobacco users, including but not limited to primary health care and other services such as those providing treatment for tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS”. If HIV/AIDS care and treatment services could integrate brief advice on tobacco cessation, a large number of smokers could be reached, and HIV/AIDS treatment outcomes will improve.
We are keen to work with UNAIDS and its co-sponsors, other international and non international organizations to support the Parties of the Convention in integrating tobacco cessation advice with HIV treatment and related services. This collaboration could also provide another example of synergistic action in the reaching of SDG targets and would contribute to the control of two related global epidemics.
Thank you.