Rédaction Africa Links 24 with New Dawn
Published on 2024-03-24 21:24:04
World Tuberculosis Day is an annual event celebrated by the World Health Organization and its partners around the globe. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Yes! We can end TB.” This theme highlights the collective effort needed to combat and eradicate tuberculosis, a disease that has plagued humanity for centuries.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the W.H.O. Regional Director for Africa, reflects on the progress made in the fight against TB, particularly in prioritizing childhood TB. The commitment of ministers of health in the region to address the needs of children with TB has led to a 20% increase in identified pediatric TB cases. This marks a positive step towards recognizing and treating TB in children more effectively.
Despite the progress made, TB remains a significant public health threat, being the second leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, surpassing even HIV/AIDS. In 2022, about 2.5 million people in the region contracted TB, resulting in 424,000 deaths. These statistics emphasize the urgent need for collective action to address the ongoing TB epidemic and work towards its elimination.
The WHO African Region has been actively supporting member states in their fight against TB by setting strategic directions, developing monitoring tools such as the African TB scorecard, and ensuring progress towards the End TB Strategy. The organization also focuses on generating and sharing knowledge on effective TB control methods and updating TB treatment guidelines.
Dr. Moeti highlights the importance of regional cooperation in the fight against TB, emphasizing the need for knowledge exchange and collaborative efforts across countries in Africa. The region has made significant strides in diagnosing TB patients, achieving a 70% diagnosis rate and reducing missed cases. This progress is attributed to the dedicated efforts of member states and partners in the region.
Between 2015 and 2022, Africa achieved a remarkable 38% reduction in TB deaths, surpassing the initial target of 35% by 2020. Additionally, there was a 23% reduction in new TB cases during the same period, exceeding the target of 20% by 2020. These achievements demonstrate the effectiveness of implemented strategies and the renewed commitment from countries in the region.
Despite these successes, challenges such as delayed diagnosis, limited access to new tools, and the threat of multi-drug resistant TB persist. Dr. Moeti calls for stakeholders to join the campaign by providing resources, enhancing community engagement, conducting research, and forming partnerships to address these challenges.
She urges member states to prioritize a multi-faceted approach to TB that addresses root causes of the disease, focuses on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. African health leaders are encouraged to strengthen health systems, ensure equitable access to TB care, and scale up innovative interventions.
Investing in research and developing new tools, including vaccines and improved diagnostics, is also recommended to accelerate progress in the fight against TB. By working together through a unified action, stakeholders can address the challenges of TB in Africa and achieve the common goal of eliminating it as a public health threat.
Read the original article on The Newdawn Liberia
