By FRANCA OFILI

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed its collective commitment to ending tuberculosis as a public health threat, urging stronger action, investment, and accountability to accelerate progress across Africa and globally.

Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, made the pledge in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, marking World Tuberculosis Day 2026.

The day, themed “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” is observed annually on March 24.

He said Africa continued to face a heavy tuberculosis burden, with the disease claiming one life every 83 seconds, underscoring the urgent need for intensified interventions across prevention, detection, and treatment systems.

Janabi warned that persistent funding gaps and a high number of undetected cases were threatening progress, in spite of notable gains recorded by countries across the region in recent years through improved diagnosis, treatment, and community engagement.

He noted that in 2024 alone, tuberculosis killed 378,000 people in the WHO African Region and infected 2.7 million others, representing about one quarter of the global TB burden.

In spite of the scale of the crisis, Janabi said there remained an unprecedented opportunity to reverse the trend, stressing that renewed commitment on World Tuberculosis Day could accelerate efforts to eliminate TB as a public health threat.

According to him, sustained progress will depend on strong national leadership, increased domestic and international investment, and empowered communities capable of driving change and ensuring equitable access to tuberculosis prevention and care services.

Janabi highlighted that the African Region had recorded significant gains, including a 46 per cent decline in tuberculosis deaths and a 28 per cent reduction in incidence between 2015 and 2024.

He added that several countries had achieved key global milestones, noting that South Africa met the 2025 target for reducing TB incidence, while Mozambique and Tanzania are making steady progress.

Janabi emphasised that community-led approaches remained critical to ending tuberculosis, calling for sustained investment in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, alongside stronger partnerships that empowered communities to lead response efforts at all levels. (NAN)

Update news