The Integrated HIV Care for Tuberculosis Patients Living with HIV/AIDS (IHC) Programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has experienced some recent changes. At the end of 2010, a workshop on TB/HIV was held, as well as a project review. The report of these two activities was used as an advocacy tool that increased the political commitment at the highest level of the Ministry of Health, leading to the creation of a TB/HIV working group. The Union has been appointed as a secretariat member for this group, which acts under the Director of the Cabinet of the Minister, for political aspects and the Director of Disease Control, for technical aspects.

An important outcome of this process is an agreed TB/HIV roadmap for the country. Three studies are included in the road map and are now integrated into the IHC project activities 1) virological profile and resistance to anti-retroviral drugs; (ARV) 2) cost effectiveness of new training strategies; 3) active research for tuberculosis in people living with HIV/AIDS.

The research team has started the first study, providing training for lab technicians and nurses who will be involved in the study on the virological profile and resistance to ARV, which took place in Butembo, North Kivu district. The team has also begun updating the cohort analysis of the last five years, while simultaneously organising logistics and systems for this new phase of the IHC programme.