World TB day: Africa records 26% reduction in death rate
As the world marks this year’s World Tuberculosis, TB, Day, the World Health Organisation, WHO, says that the African region has recorded 26 percent reduction in TB deaths.
In her message to mark the day, Regional Director of WHO in Africa, Matshdiso Moeti said the region is now on the threshold of reaching a 35 per cent of TB death reduction.
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The World TB Day is commemorated yearly on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of this preventable disease and call for accelerated action to end it.
However, the 26 percent reduction happened between 2015 and 2021, where seven countries— Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, South Soudan, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia have reached a 35 per cent reduction in deaths since 2015. Similarly, across the region, the challenges in TB prevention and control are significant:
“First, the delayed diagnosis and testing. There is still a notable gap between the estimated number of new infections and case notifications of TB: 40 per cent of people living with TB did not know of their diagnosis or it was not reported in 2021.
“One million people are living with TB in the region and have not been detected…Second, the link between TB and HIV. Approximately 20 per cent of people newly diagnosed with TB are also living with HIV infection.
“Third, the multi-drug resistant TB. In the African region, only 26 per cent of all people living with multi-drug resistance are receiving the appropriate treatment, WHO Regional Director for Africa,” Matshdiso Moeti said.
Moeti in her message expressed delight that 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. She further noted that in the African Region, the use of rapid diagnostic testing has increased from 34 per cent in 2020 to 43 per cent in 2021, which will improve countries’ ability to detect and diagnose new cases of the disease.
“It is particularly important 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 per cent 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.”
She further explained that TB requires concerted action by all sectors: from communities and businesses to governments, civil society and others.
She said: “We must work together to develop innovative approaches to reach vulnerable populations and ensure that they have access to quality TB care and management.”
She maintained that 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. Moeti also added that ending TB is feasible with the decline in TB deaths and cases, and the elimination of economic and social burdens associated with it.
Moeti urged leaders, governments, partners, communities, and all stakeholders to urgently foster the resilient health systems required to accelerate the TB response so that Africa can meet the Sustainable Development Goals targets by 2030. “Yes, we can end TB in our lifetime” she added.
This year’s theme is “Yes, we can end TB,” highlighting the need to ensure equitable access to prevention and care, in line with our drive towards Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.
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