The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that there has been a 26 per cent reduction in Tuberclosis (TB) deaths between 2015 and 2021 in Africa.
Dr Matshdiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said
this in her message to mark 2023 World TB Day with theme ” Yes, We Can End TB”.
Moeti said that significant progress has been made in
eradicating TB in Africa.
Speaking on the theme, she said , there was need to ensure
equitable access to prevention and care, in line with the country’s drive
towards Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.
“WHO in the African region is now on the threshold of
reaching a 35 per cent TB death reduction: there has been a 26 per cent
reduction in TB deaths between 2015 and 2021.
“Seven countries — Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, South Sudan,
Togo, Uganda and Zambia have reached a 35 per cent reduction in deaths since
2015,” she said.
Moeti said that Nigeria has significantly increased its
national TB case finding by 50 per cent in 2021 using innovative approaches
such as the expansion of the daily observed treatment protocols.
She said others are the use of digital technologies,
community active case finding, and enlisting public private mix initiatives.
Moeti said that through technical support, advocacy and
effective partnerships, enormous progress has been made over the past decade,
especially in the East and Southern African Regions.
According to her, high-burden countries like Ethiopia,
Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia have surpassed or
reached the 20 per cent target of reducing new TB cases.
Moeti showed 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 said that the use of rapid diagnostic testing in African
countries has increased from 34 per cent in 2020 to 43 per cent in 2021,
thereby improving the countries ability to detect and diagnose new cases of the
disease.
According to her, 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 said.
Moeti added that TB required concerted action by all
sectors: from communities and businesses to governments, civil society and
others.
She said counties must work together to develop innovative
approaches to reach vulnerable populations and ensure that they have access to
quality TB care and management.
According to her, the day is commemorated to raise public
awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of
this preventable disease and call for accelerated action to end it.
“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 per cent reduction by 2020), with a decline rate of
22 per cent in new infections since 2015,” Moeti said.
She said that there was still a notable gap between the
estimated number of new infections and case notifications of TB.
According to her, more than 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,” Moeti said.
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