The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for an urgent scale-up of tuberculosis (TB) interventions across Africa, stressing that the continent requires approximately US$4.5 billion annually to mount a comprehensive response.
The agency warned that current funding falls US$3.6 billion short of the estimated need, slowing progress against one of the region’s most persistent health threats.
Between 2015 and 2024, the African region has made measurable strides, with TB deaths falling by 46 per cent and overall incidence declining by 28 per cent, according to WHO.
Several countries have achieved remarkable milestones: South Africa met the 2025 target for reducing TB incidence, while Mozambique, Tanzania, Togo, and Zambia succeeded in cutting TB deaths by three-quarters.
WHO highlighted the rapid uptake of the six-month all-oral BPaLM regimen, a breakthrough treatment for drug-resistant TB.
Across Africa, the proportion of patients receiving this therapy soared from nearly zero in 2023 to 40 per cent in 2024, representing the fastest adoption rate of any WHO region.
The regimen has reported success rates exceeding 85 per cent, offering new hope for individuals previously facing long and toxic treatments.
Despite this progress, gaps remained significant. Each year, an estimated 600,000 people with TB go undiagnosed or untreated, while only just over half of patients have access to WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic tests.
Additionally, about 62,000 people develop rifampicin-resistant TB annually, underscoring the ongoing challenges of detection and treatment.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, stressed the devastating financial impact on affected households.
Nearly 70 per cent of families caring for TB patients face catastrophic costs, the highest proportion globally.
Insufficient investment in health systems exacerbates these hardships, limiting access to timely diagnosis and effective care.
In a statement marking World Tuberculosis Day 2026, Dr. Janabi called on African governments to boost domestic funding and accelerate the implementation of national TB strategies.
He also urged international partners and donors to help close the funding gap while supporting country-led priorities.
The WHO official emphasised the critical role of communities and civil society in reaching vulnerable populations, holding stakeholders accountable, and ensuring that progress is sustained.
Efforts to scale up rapid diagnostics, strengthen laboratories, and integrate TB services into primary health care are essential to reducing both mortality and transmission.
“Ending TB is within our reach,” Dr. Janabi said. “With committed leadership, sufficient investment, and empowered communities, the African region can eliminate tuberculosis as a public health threat.”
WHO pledged continued technical support, capacity building, and partnership with member states to ensure that countries not only reach global TB milestones but also address the social and economic impacts of the disease.
