The African region is witnessing unprecedented progress in tuberculosis (TB) control, with approximately 70% of cases now being diagnosed and treated.
This represents the highest case-detection rate ever achieved in the region, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). As home to 23% of the global TB burden and 33% of TB deaths, Africa’s strides are pivotal in the fight against the disease.
However, this momentum is at risk due to a critical funding gap. The Global Fund, which provides 76% of international TB funding for low- and middle-income countries, allocated only 18% of its resources to TB in 2023. This shortfall jeopardizes years of progress in ending TB, as highlighted by the Stop TB Partnership.
“With COVID-19 deaths declining, TB is once again the biggest killer among infectious diseases. The oldest pandemic afflicting humanity, the pandemic of the poor, TB is a formidable adversary, but one we know how to defeat,” notes the Global Fund.
Funding Gaps and Global Commitments
The Global Plan to End TB 2018–2022 estimated that the African region required $3.9 billion annually to tackle TB. Yet, by 2022, only $890 million had been mobilized. Approximately 46% of this funding came from domestic sources, with the rest reliant on international aid.
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, underscores the urgency: “We need more money. The key takeaway from this year’s Global Tuberculosis Report is that with decisive action, we can eliminate TB. We have the momentum, tools, and leadership required, but we need additional funding and must address the human rights and gender barriers that hinder access to essential services.”
At the second United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB in September 2023, Member States committed to ambitious funding goals. They pledged to mobilize at least $22 billion annually by 2027, aiming for $35 billion per year by 2030. An additional $5 billion annually was earmarked for TB research by 2027, as outlined in the Stop TB Partnership’s latest Global Plan to End TB.
Despite these pledges, systemic issues continue to hinder TB control efforts in Africa: Limited access to health services, inadequate infrastructure and human resources, insufficient quality of care and weak social protection mechanisms.
These challenges disproportionately affect marginalized populations, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive community, rights, and gender (CRG) approach to ensure equitable access to TB prevention, diagnostics, and treatment.
A Call for Sustained Commitment
With TB now reclaiming its position as the world’s deadliest infectious disease, there is no room for complacency. “The main source of international donor funding for TB is The Global Fund,” reiterates the WHO, underscoring the critical need for sustained financial and political commitment.
As Africa works toward making TB history, the region’s progress must not be derailed. Achieving global targets requires collective action, addressing funding gaps, and removing barriers that hinder access to care. With the right investments and strategies, ending TB is no longer a distant dream but an achievable reality.