WHO Urges Enhanced Commitment to Eradicate TB in South-East Asia
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New Delhi, Dec 16 (NationPress) The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged nations within the Southeast Asia Region to seize the momentum generated in the fight against tuberculosis (TB).
Saima Wazed, the Regional Director for the WHO in the Southeast Asia Region, emphasized the necessity of expediting efforts across multiple sectors to ensure that every individual affected and at risk is reached. The renewed initiatives should also tackle the social and economic factors that influence the disease.
“An approach centered on primary healthcare that addresses TB determinants like undernutrition, incorporates advancements in Artificial Intelligence, and positions communities and affected individuals at the forefront of all initiatives, should form the core of our revitalized strategy,” Wazed stated.
As per the latest Global TB Report 2024 published by the WHO, over 5 million individuals in Southeast Asia were diagnosed with TB, which represents 45 percent of the worldwide TB burden and accounts for more than half of the global TB fatalities in 2023.
Nevertheless, the estimated mortality rate from TB decreased to 583,000 in 2023, down from a peak of 763,000 in 2021. The program successfully identified only 22 percent of TB cases that were previously overlooked in 2023, a significant improvement from 44 percent in 2020.
Furthermore, the report indicated that more than 3.8 million individuals were started on TB treatment in the region in 2023, marking the highest figure ever recorded.
However, the treatment coverage remained inadequate, with merely 9 percent of individuals living with HIV and less than 25 percent of household contacts of bacteriologically confirmed TB patients receiving preventive care, according to the WHO report, highlighting a substantial funding deficit of nearly ₹200 crores annually.
While Wazed acknowledged the strides made by countries in the region against TB, she pointed out that the overwhelming disease burden, its devastating socio-economic repercussions, and the significant resource shortages necessitate prompt and intensified actions.
“There is a critical need for multisectoral, multidisciplinary cooperation and coordination to consolidate resources aimed at eradicating TB, ensuring that no one is left behind. Engaging with the underserved, particularly those who are vulnerable and marginalized, is essential in our battle against TB,” the Regional Director remarked.
“Now is the time to accelerate the collective momentum achieved by the member countries in their efforts to eliminate TB,” Wazed concluded.
