According to the World Health Organisation, 10.6 million people worldwide fell ill from TB in 2022, with 1.3 million succumbing to the disease. In Zambia alone, approximately 59,000 individuals were diagnosed with TB in 2022, resulting in 5,300 deaths.

Given the above, Zambia has reiterated its dedicated response to tuberculosis (TB), calling on leaders to amplify their efforts towards the disease.

Minister of Health, Ms Sylvia Masebo, who officiated at this year’s World Tuberculosis Day commemorations recently held in Kabwe, said the 2024 World TB Day theme of “Yes! We can end TB!” signified the need for collective responsibility to prevent and treat tuberculosis, a disease she said continues to claim numerous lives globally.

Ms Masebo highlighted Zambia’s remarkable progress in detecting and treating TB patients as a testament to Zambia’s dedicated response to the disease.

“Zambia achieved an impressive 49% increase in detecting and treating TB patients from 36,866 in 2019 to 54,848 in 2022. This high performance was sustained in 2023, with nearly 55,000 TB patients detected,” she said.

She added that over the past five years, the treatment success rate has consistently exceeded 90%, with more than 90% of eligible people living with HIV receiving TB preventive treatment.

The Minister, however, stressed the urgent need for action, citing persistent myths and discrimination that hinder access to care and contribute to unnecessary deaths.

“Myths and discrimination delay care and lead to unnecessary deaths, despite TB diagnosis and treatment being accessible in all health facilities,” she lamented.

She thanked all stakeholders for their support towards Zambia’s TB response. “Our progress would not have been possible without the collective efforts of healthcare workers, policymakers, civil society organisations, and communities,” she acknowledged.

Meanwhile, USAID Zambia Health Office Director Amy Cunningham reiterated the United States government’s commitment to partnering with Zambia to achieve United Nations high-level meeting targets, including increasing identification and treatment of patients with drug-resistant TB cases and uptake of TB prevention treatment among children under the age of five who are in contact with TB patients.

During the commemorations, the Minister of Health also launched the National Tuberculosis Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilisation Strategy and the Community TB ECHO curriculum training guide, which are critical in reducing stigma, enhancing treatment accessibility, and advancing initiatives towards ending the TB epidemic.

The 2024 World TB Day commemoration held in Kabwe district witnessed widespread participation from various districts nationwide, symbolising a unified approach towards combatting tuberculosis nationally.