Bolster efforts to end TB in WHO South-East Asia Region

The World Health Organization has called on Member countries in South-East Asia Region to build on the momentum created to end TB with accelerated multi-sectoral efforts led by the highest political level to reach every affected and at risk person, and address the socio-economic determinants and impact of the disease.

"A primary health care-based approach that addresses TB determinants such as undernutrition, embraces new technologies including developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence, and has communities and affected populations at the center of all efforts, should be among the key elements of our reinvigorated approach," said Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region.

According to the Global TB Report 2024 published by the WHO, more than 3.8 million people were initiated on TB treatment in the WHO South-East Asia Region in 2023, the highest ever and nearly 1.3 million more than in the year 2020 impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimated percentage of people with TB, missed by the programme, declined to 22% from 44% in 2020.

As per the report, the estimated number of deaths due to TB declined to 583 000 in 2023, after a peak of 763 000 in 2021.

However, the Region continues to account for a disproportionate 45% of the global TB burden with an estimated over 5 million people developing the disease in 2023, and over half of TB deaths globally in 2023.

Nearly 1.5 million people received TB preventive treatment which helps protect high-risk population from developing the disease. However, the coverage remained low with only 9% people living with HIV and less than a quarter for household contacts of bacteriologically confirmed TB patients, receiving preventive treatment.

The available funding for TB in the Region reached US$ 1.1 billion in 2023, increasing steadily by 70% through domestic sources, but a huge gap of nearly US$ 2 billion per year persists for implementation of a comprehensive strategy to end TB in the Region.

Though countries in the Region have been making considerable efforts, the huge disease burden, its catastrophic socio-economic impact and severe resource crunch calls for accelerated and urgent actions, she said.

There is need for multisectoral, multidisciplinary collaboration and coordination for pooling of resources to end TB, leaving no-one behind to reach every TB affected person, their families and those at risk of developing the disease irrespective of where they live. Reaching the unreached, specifically those who are vulnerable and marginalized is key to our fight against TB, the Regional Director said.

"It is time to push the pedal on the momentum built collectively by the Member countries of the Region in efforts towards ending TB," Wazed said.

On 18 August 2023 Member countries of the Region signed the Gandhinagar Declaration to step up efforts to end TB. A month later on 22 September 2023, at the second United Nations high-level meeting on the fight against TB, world leaders adopted a historic declaration with commitments to ambitious and comprehensive time-bound targets and actions. These targets and actions aim to enhance equitable access to TB services, protect human rights, address TB determinants, reduce vulnerability, accelerate research and innovation, and mobilize sufficient resources to support these endeavors.

More information -

Global Tuberculosis Report 2024

Key facts - Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis SEARO

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