The World Health Organization has reported a significant decline in tuberculosis deaths in Africa, with a 26% reduction in deaths between 2015 and 2021.
The report was delivered by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshdiso Moeti, in a message to commemorate World TB Day on March 24, 2023. The theme for this year’s event is “Yes, We Can End TB.”
Moeti highlighted the progress made in eradicating TB in Africa, stating that seven countries—Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda and Zambia—have achieved a 35% reduction in deaths since 2015.
She also noted that Nigeria had significantly increased its national TB case finding by 50% in 2021 using innovative approaches such as the expansion of daily observed treatment protocols and digital technologies.
Moeti emphasized the importance of equitable access to prevention and care in achieving Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals, stating that WHO in the African region is on the threshold of reaching a 35% TB death reduction.
“Through technical support, advocacy and effective partnerships, enormous progress has been made over the past decade, especially in the East and Southern African Regions,” she said.
Moeti added that 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.
However, she noted that there is still a gap between the estimated number of new infections and case notifications of TB, with more than 40% of people living with TB not knowing of their diagnosis or it not being reported in 2021.
Moeti stressed that concerted action by all sectors, including communities, businesses, governments, civil society, and others, is needed to develop innovative approaches to reach vulnerable populations and ensure access to quality TB care and management.
she said, “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.”
Moeti highlighted the importance of early detection and diagnosis, stating that the use of rapid diagnostic testing in African countries has increased from 34% in 2020 to 43% in 2021, thereby improving the countries’ ability to detect and diagnose new cases of the disease.
She also called for efforts to address the link between TB and HIV and to improve access to appropriate treatment for multi-drug resistant TB.
The WHO’s report on the decline in TB deaths in Africa highlights the progress made in the fight against the disease.
However, it also underscores the need for continued efforts to address the gaps in TB detection, diagnosis, and treatment to achieve the goal of ending TB in Africa.
