Over 1.5m People Still Die Of Tuberculosis Annually – WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said about 1.5 million still die from the global scourge of tuberculosis even as nine million new cases were reported in 2013 alone.
WHO director-general, Dr Margaret Chan, stated this in a statement to mark this year’s World Tuberculosis Day yesterday while calling for “global solidarity and action” to support a new 20-year strategy which aims to end the TB epidemic
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Chan said although progress was being made in the fight against TB, with over 37 million lives saved, much more needed to be done.
“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.
“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,” she said.
WHO’s End TB Strategy, adopted by governments at the World Health Assembly last year, is 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% reduction in TB deaths and a 90% 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.
Chan called on the government to intensify funding for the fight against TB as well as making care more accessible through financial protection schemes to minimize medical and non-medical costs as well as income loss.
“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,” says Dr Eric Goosby, who was appointed UN Special Envoy on TB in January this year. “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.”
According to the WHO, improving 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.
The strategy addresses tuberculosis among vulnerable groups, including people living with HIV who develop TB. In 2013 there were an estimated 1.1 million people co-infected with HIV and TB, 360 000 of whom died.