World Health Organization has revealed that African countries require about $4.5 billion annually to effectively combat tuberculosis (TB), warning that current funding levels remain far below what is needed.
 

 Funding Gap Threatens Progress

According to the WHO, there is currently a $3.6 billion shortfall, limiting efforts to scale up prevention, diagnosis, and treatment across the continent.

Despite this, the region has made notable gains in recent years, showing that progress is possible with the right investment.

 Significant Progress Recorded

Between 2015 and 2024:

    •    TB-related deaths dropped by 46%
    •    TB infection rates declined by 28%
 

Several countries have also reached key global milestones:

    •    South Africa met the 2025 target for reducing TB incidence
    •    Mozambique, Tanzania, Togo, and Zambia achieved a 75% reduction in TB deaths

Breakthroughs in Treatment

The adoption of modern treatment methods is transforming outcomes, especially for drug-resistant TB.

    •    A new six-month all-oral treatment regimen (BPaLM) has recorded success rates above 85%
    •    Uptake of these treatments surged from nearly 0% to about 40% between 2023 and 2024, the fastest globally

This rapid progress highlights Africa’s growing leadership in adopting innovative TB treatments.
 

Ongoing Challenges

Despite improvements, major gaps remain:

    •    Around 600,000 TB cases go undiagnosed or untreated each year
    •    Only just over half of patients can access rapid diagnostic testing
    •    About 62,000 people develop drug-resistant TB annually
    •    Nearly 70% of affected households face severe financial hardship

These challenges continue to slow efforts to eliminate the disease.
 

Call for Urgent Action

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, urged governments and partners to step up efforts.

He called for:

    •    Increased domestic funding
    •    Stronger health systems
    •    Expanded access to diagnostics and treatment
    •    Greater community involvement

He emphasized that ending TB is achievable but requires sustained commitment and collaboration.

What This Means

    •    Africa is making real progress against TB
    •    Funding shortages remain the biggest obstacle
    •    New treatments offer hope for faster recovery
    •    Urgent investment is needed to avoid setbacks