World Tuberculosis Day 2024: A Message from Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa

World Tuberculosis Day 2024: A Message from Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

Igniting Hope: Progress and Challenges in the Fight Against Tuberculosis in Africa

The 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa held in Lomé, Togo, in 2022 sparked a powerful movement aimed at prioritizing childhood tuberculosis (TB). Health ministers from across the region joined forces to address the needs of this often-overlooked population.

Since then, there has been a significant 20% increase in identified pediatric TB cases compared to the previous year. This positive trend signifies a practical shift in recognizing TB in children and a decisive push towards ending this ancient disease.

As we commemorate World Tuberculosis Day, we reflect on our progress while acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead in our efforts to eliminate TB as a public health threat.

TB remains the second leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, surpassing the toll of HIV/AIDS. In 2022, approximately 2.5 million individuals contracted TB in the region, equating to one person every 13 seconds. Additionally, TB claimed the lives of 424,000 people in 2022, resulting in the loss of one life every minute, despite being preventable and treatable. These figures underscore the urgent need for collective action to address the ongoing TB epidemic and highlight the importance of sustained efforts to end it.

The WHO African Region supports member states in their fight against TB by setting strategic directions, developing monitoring tools such as the African TB scorecard with the African Union, and ensuring progress towards the End TB Strategy. Our organization is dedicated to generating and sharing knowledge on effective TB control methods, updating TB treatment guidelines, and expanding access to rapid diagnostic tools.

We celebrate another milestone in the WHO African Region: diagnosing 70% of TB patients, marking a significant reduction in missed cases and bringing us closer to our goal. Between 2015 and 2022, the region achieved a remarkable 38% reduction in TB deaths and a 23% reduction in new TB cases. While these achievements demonstrate the effectiveness of implemented strategies and renewed commitment from countries, they fall short of the targets set for 2025 under the End TB Strategy.

Challenges such as delayed diagnosis, limited access to new tools and technologies, and the threat of multi-drug resistant TB require continued vigilance and sustained efforts. Stakeholders are urged to provide resources, enhance community engagement, conduct research, and form private-sector partnerships to address these challenges.

We call on all member states to prioritize a multi-faceted approach that addresses the root causes of TB while strengthening efforts in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Investing in research and developing new tools, including vaccines and improved diagnostics, is essential to accelerate progress. Collaboration across sectors and borders is paramount.

In closing, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting all member states and partners with unwavering determination for a world free of TB. Together, we can overcome the challenges of TB in Africa and achieve our goal of its elimination as a public health threat.