HIV and tuberculosis in the Commonwealth

Heads of governments can learn from one another's successes

The countries of the Commonwealth share more than a common heritage of British rule. They also share a disproportionate burden of communicable disease, particularly HIV and tuberculosis. Yet there are also considerable success stories within Commonwealth countries in controlling these diseases—and these too should be shared. The Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Durban in November provides such an opportunity.

Though Commonwealth countries represent only 29.5% of the global population, they account for 60.5% of cases of HIV and 42.3% of those of tuberculosis (see figure and fuller table on www.bmj.com).1 2 The …