The World Health Organization (WHO) is sounding the alarm on the global tuberculosis (TB) crisis, as drastic funding cuts threaten to reverse decades of progress in combating the deadly disease. With over 1 million people dying from TB annually, the WHO is calling for urgent investment to protect and maintain TB care and support services worldwide.
TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, with global efforts saving an estimated 79 million lives since 2000. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts have disrupted TB services, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe.
The WHO reports that 27 countries are facing crippling breakdowns in their TB response, with severe consequences, including.
- Human Resource Shortages: Undermining service delivery and disrupting care
- Diagnostic Disruptions: Delaying detection and treatment
- Data and Surveillance Collapse: Compromising disease tracking and management
- Community Engagement Deterioration: Leading to delayed diagnoses and increased transmission risks
Furthermore, nine countries report failing TB drug procurement and supply chains, jeopardizing treatment continuity and patient outcomes.
The WHO emphasizes that investing in TB prevention and treatment is not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity, with every dollar spent yielding an estimated $43 in economic returns.
To combat the growing resource constraints, the WHO is driving the integration of TB and lung health within primary healthcare as a sustainable solution. New technical guidance outlines critical actions across the care continuum, focusing on prevention, early detection, and optimized management.
On World TB Day, the WHO calls on individuals, communities, societies, donors, and governments to do their part to end TB. Without concerted action, the TB response will be decimated, reversing decades of progress and putting millions of lives at risk.
WHO/Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
