WHO Calls for Urgent Action to Eradicate Tuberculosis in Africa
On World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, March 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for an intensified commitment from global leaders to eliminate tuberculosis (TB), emphasizing the need for increased investment and action. TB remains the deadliest infectious disease worldwide, and in 2023, it reclaimed its title as the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent.
The WHO African Region is particularly impacted, with 2.5 million new cases and 404,000 deaths, representing one life lost every 78 seconds. Angola, in particular, continues to face a major TB burden, with over 65,000 new cases annually over the past five years, making it one of the 20 most affected countries globally.
Dr. Nzuzi Katondi, WHO TB officer in Angola, commended the Angolan government for its ongoing efforts to combat TB, citing significant improvements in service coverage from 2018 to 2023.
He praised the implementation of the National TB Control Strategic Plan (PEN TB) 2018-2022 and the development of the new PEN TB 2023-2027. Dr. Katondi urged continued acceleration of efforts, including expanding rapid diagnostic services, strengthening primary healthcare, and ensuring patient-centered care.
Despite these efforts, Angola remains in dire need of further progress to meet its TB elimination targets. The WHO has outlined five key measures for governments to adopt in order to end TB: increasing national investments, enhancing surveillance and data systems, expanding access to rapid diagnostic tools, engaging communities for patient-centered care, and addressing the social determinants of TB, such as poverty and inadequate healthcare access.
The global fight against TB is gaining momentum, with world leaders reaffirming their commitment to ending the epidemic by 2030 during the United Nations high-level meeting in September 2023. The WHO emphasized the need for leadership, innovation, and cross-country collaboration to reach the ambitious goal of eliminating TB and saving millions of lives.
