The World Health Organization has said undetected One million people are living with TB while 40% lack knowledge of their diagnosis or were never reported in 2021.
This was disclosed by the WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti in a message to commemorate this year’s world TB day on the 24th of March 2023.
According to her, this rippling devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB-preventable disease with approximately 20% of people newly diagnosed with TB who are also living with HIV infection has called for urgent action by governments and stakeholders to achieve the elimination of Sustainable Development Goals targets by 2030.
“In 2021, with a clear roadmap, the WHO in the African Region showed that it is possible to reach – and even surpass –the first milestone of the End TB Strategy (20% reduction by 2020), with a decline rate of 22% in new infections since 2015.
“Through our technical support, leading advocacy, and effective partnerships, enormous progress has been made over the past decade, especially in the East and Southern African Regions. High-burden countries, like Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia have surpassed or reached the 20% target of reducing new TB cases.
“The WHO in the African Region is now on the threshold of reaching a 35% TB death reduction: there has been a 26% reduction in TB deaths between 2015 and 2021. Seven countries— Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, South Soudan, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia—have reached a 35% reduction in deaths since 2015.
“However, across the region, the challenges in TB prevention and control are significant.”
Dr. Moeti further commended countries for the increase in uptake of new tools and guidance recommended by WHO and with special recognition to Nigeria for its national TB case finding increased by 50% in 2021.
“The multi-drug resistant TB. In Africa, only 26% of people living with multi-drug resistance receive the appropriate treatment.
“Still, I am delighted that our Member States are increasing the uptake of new tools and guidance recommended by WHO, resulting in early access to TB prevention and care, and better outcomes. In the African Region, rapid diagnostic testing has increased from 34% in 2020 to 43% in 2021, improving countries’ ability to detect and diagnose new cases of the disease.
“It is imperative to find and diagnose cases of TB so that the patients can be treated, and their contacts offered preventive medication. Nigeria is an example of a country that managed to significantly increase national TB case finding by 50% in 2021 using innovative approaches such as the expansion of the daily observed treatment protocols, use of digital technologies, Community Active Case Finding, and enlisting Public Private Mix initiatives.
“TB requires concerted action by all sectors: from communities and businesses to governments, civil society, and others.
“We must work together to develop innovative approaches to reach vulnerable populations and ensure they have access to quality TB care and management.
“The second UN High-level Meeting on TB in September 2023 will provide a rare opportunity to give global visibility to the disease and mobilize high-level political commitment to end TB.”
World TB Day is celebrated every 24th of March, this year’s theme is “Yes, we can end TB,” even as the leading partner in TB prevention is optimism that ending TB is feasible with the decline in TB deaths and cases, thus raising public awareness on why everyone should get involved to end the scourge of the widespread disease across the globe.
