(SINL NIGERIA) The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that Tuberculosis (TB) claimed 378 000 lives and infected over 2.7 million in 2024.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi made the disclosure in a message to commemorate 2026 world tuberculosis day.
According to the statement in “every 83 seconds, tuberculosis (TB) claims a life in the WHO African Region”.
He said on World TB Day today, and under the theme Yes! We Can End TB. Led by Countries. Powered by Communities, “we reaffirm our collective commitment to ending TB as a public health threat. This theme recognizes that progress depends on strong national leadership, sustained investment and empowered communities driving change at every level.
He said the African Region has already made significant progress, saying between 2015 and 2024, TB deaths have declined by 46% and TB incidence has fallen by 28%.
He emphasized “Several countries have reached key global milestones: South Africa met the 2025 target for reducing TB incidence, while Mozambique, Tanzania, Togo and Zambia achieved a 75% reduction in TB deaths”.
Janabi explained that rapid diagnostic technologies are being scaled up, and shorter, more effective six-month all-oral treatment regimens are transforming outcomes for people with drug-resistant TB.
He added “The revolutionary six -month all-oral BPaLM regimen has achieved success rates exceeding 85%, with the African Region leading the global uptake. Between 2023 and 2024, the proportion of drug-resistant patients receiving six-month regimens surged from almost zero to about 40%, the fastest adoption rate of any WHO region”.
He however expressed optimism that this progress demonstrates that determined leadership, strengthened health systems and community engagement can deliver measurable results.
He bemoaned “At the same time, major gaps continue to slow progress. Each year, an estimated 600 000 people with TB in the African Region are not diagnosed or treated. Only just over half of all patients have access to WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic tests, leaving hundreds of thousands undiagnosed, or diagnosed too late. In addition, an estimated 62 000 people still develop rifampicin-resistant TB annually.
