The World Health Organisation has called for ‘global solidarity action’ to support a new 20-year strategy aimed at ending the global tuberculosis epidemic, as countries mark World Tuberculosis Day on March 24.



Recent years have seen tremendous progress in the fight against TB, with over 37 million lives saved, but much more needs to be done, said a statement.

In 2013, 9 million people fell ill with TB, almost half a million of whom have a multi-drug resistant disease which is far harder to treat.

An estimated 1.5 million people still die of tuberculosis each year.

The disease frequently has devastating economic consequences for affected families, reducing their annual income by an average of 50 per cent, and aggravating existing inequalities, it said.



Dr Margaret Chan, WHO director-general, said: “This is a matter of social justice, fundamental to our goal of universal health coverage. Each and every man, woman or child with TB should have equal, unhindered access to the innovative tools and services they need for rapid diagnosis, treatment and care.”



WHO’s End TB Strategy, adopted by governments at the World Health Assembly last year, has been designed to drive action in three key areas: integrated patient-centred TB care and prevention for all in need, including children; bold policies and supportive systems; and intensified research and innovation.



The strategy sets ambitious targets of a 95 per cent reduction in TB deaths and a 90 per cent reduction in cases of TB by 2035.

An important milestone to be reached within the next five years (2020) is the elimination of catastrophic costs for TB patients and their families.

Eliminating catastrophic costs is feasible through making care more accessible and through financial protection schemes to minimise medical and non-medical costs as well as income loss.



This year is being seen as a critical year for action to adapt and roll out the strategy in diverse country settings.

Achieving success for the strategy will require the TB community around the world to work together to leverage alliances and resources.



Dr Eric Goosby, who was appointed UN Special Envoy on TM in January, said: “The progress that has been made in combating TB has been hard won and must be intensified if we are to wipe out the TB epidemic.

“The End TB Strategy offers new hope to the millions of people suffering and losing their lives to TB each year. It is time to join forces to create a world free of TB.”



The strategy addresses tuberculosis among vulnerable groups, including people living with HIV who develop TB, said the statement.



Persistent funding gaps in the TB response also need to be filled to drive progress towards ending the global epidemic, it said.

The accelerating of research and innovation in basic science, new diagnostics, drugs and vaccines and their rapid uptake, will be critical to break the trajectory of the epidemic and reach the global targets, it added. - TradeArabia News Service