The World Health Organization reported that Nigeria significantly increased its national tuberculosis (TB) case‑finding by 50 percent in 2021 through innovative approaches. WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti highlighted this achievement in a message marking World TB Day, which is observed each year on 24 March to raise public awareness of the devastating health, social and economic consequences of this preventable disease and to call for accelerated action to end it. This year’s theme, “Yes, we can end TB,” underscores the need for equitable access to prevention and care, aligning with the push toward Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr Moeti emphasized the importance of finding and diagnosing TB cases so patients can receive treatment and their contacts can be offered preventive medication. She noted that Nigeria serves as an example of a country that managed to boost national TB case‑finding by 50 percent in 2021 using strategies such as expanded daily observed treatment protocols, digital technologies, community active case‑finding, and public‑private mix initiatives. “TB requires concerted action by all sectors—from communities and businesses to governments, civil society and others,” she said in a press statement.
The African Region is approaching a 35 percent reduction in TB deaths, having achieved a 26 percent decline between 2015 and 2021. Seven countries—Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda and Zambia—have already reached the 35 percent target since 2015. Nevertheless, Dr Moeti highlighted ongoing challenges in TB prevention and control. First, delayed diagnosis and testing remain problematic; in 2021, 40 percent of people living with TB were unaware of their diagnosis or were not reported, leaving one million undetected cases in the region. Second, the link between TB and HIV persists, with approximately 20 percent of newly diagnosed TB patients also living with HIV. Third, multi‑drug‑resistant TB is inadequately addressed, as only 26 percent of those affected receive appropriate treatment.
She praised member states for increasing the uptake of new tools and WHO guidance, which has led to earlier access to TB prevention and care and better outcomes. In the African Region, the use of rapid diagnostic testing rose from 34 percent in 2020 to 43 percent in 2021, enhancing countries’ ability to detect and diagnose new cases. Dr Moeti called for collaborative development of innovative approaches to reach vulnerable populations and ensure access to quality TB care and management.
The second UN High‑Level Meeting on TB in September 2023 will provide a rare opportunity to give global visibility to the disease and mobilize high‑level political commitment to end TB. “Ending TB is feasible with the decline in TB deaths and cases, and the elimination of economic and social burdens associated with it,” she asserted. She urged leaders, governments, partners, communities and all stakeholders to urgently strengthen resilient health systems to accelerate the TB response and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. “Yes, we can end TB in our lifetime,” she concluded.
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