In a message marking World Tuberculosis Day 2024, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, highlighted the progress and challenges in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) in the region.
Moeti emphasised the importance of prioritizing childhood TB and the need for sustained efforts to eliminate TB as a public health threat.
Moeti noted the positive step of a 20% increase in identified pediatric TB cases compared to the previous year, signaling a more practical approach to recognizing TB in children. However, she also highlighted the sobering statistics, stating that TB continues to be the second leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, with about 2.5 million individuals contracting TB in 2022 in the region.
While celebrating milestones such as diagnosing 70% of TB patients and achieving a remarkable 38% reduction in TB deaths between 2015 and 2022, Moeti stressed the need for continued and intensified efforts to meet ambitious goals, including the 2025 End TB Strategy targets.
She urged stakeholders to join in providing resources, enhancing community engagement, conducting research, and forming private-sector partnerships to address the challenges of TB in Africa.
She called on Member States to prioritize a multi-faceted approach that addresses the root causes of the disease and intensifies their commitment to strengthening health systems, ensuring equitable access to TB care, and scaling up innovative interventions.
