In this issue:

• Multidisciplinary team approaches to monitoring and treating persons living with HIV
• CHART Network Special Features
• CHART Unit Activities
• Calendar of Events

The CHART Network is happy to report its official membership of the Caribbean Regional Monitoring & Evaluation Working Group. This technical working group is comprised of representatives from institutions providing M&E technical assistance at no cost to the Caribbean region. The institutions included in its membership are: the Caribbean Coalition of National AIDS Programme Coordinators (CCNAPC); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC), Caribbean HIV/ADIS Alliance, HIV/AIDS Project Unit of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS HAPU); Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) HIV Caribbean Office, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Bank.

The overall mandate is to maximize the timeliness, efficiency and effectiveness of efforts that address HIV-related monitoring and evaluation needs in the Caribbean. Members are updated on recent M&E thinking, strategise around issues of regional importance; review the past performance of the group and to map out a work programme for the upcoming year. The CHRC is currently the Chair of the group.

In view of the increasing number of tuberculosis (TB) cases seen in the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) member countries, the need for improving systems for the management and control of the disease is recognized. These guidelines for tuberculosis (TB)prevention, treatment, care, and control are intended to:

• Reemphasize and underscore the importance of full implementation of the Stop TB Strategy to TB prevention and control efforts in the Caribbean
• Serve as a reference document for CAREC member countries to demonstrate where the International Standards for TB Care can support National TB Programme (NTP) guidelines
• Highlight areas where NTPs and National HIV/AIDs Programmes (NAP) can collaborate to improve diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with TB, HIV and TB/HIV co-infection
• Provide practical recommendations and useful tools that can be adapted to meet the diversity of our Caribbean NTPs