The African region has recorded the sharpest decline in tuberculosis (TB) deaths globally since 2015, according to the recently released World Health Organization (WHO) Global TB Report 2024. Despite this progress, the continent continues to face significant challenges in fully curbing the disease.

Between 2015 and 2023, TB deaths in Africa dropped by an impressive 42%, while new TB cases declined by 24%. This achievement has largely been attributed to intensified efforts by governments and health systems to improve case detection and expand treatment services. In 2023 alone, around 1.9 million TB cases were detected across the region, up from 1.4 million in 2020. During this period, treatment coverage also rose from 55% to 74%.

This year’s World TB Day, observed on March 24, carries the theme “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” urging stronger commitments and decisive action to scale up early detection, preventive treatment, and high-quality TB care.

Under the WHO End TB Strategy, countries are tasked with reducing TB deaths by 75% and cases by 50% by 2025, using 2015 levels as a baseline. Some African countries have made remarkable progress toward these targets. South Africa, for example, has already achieved a 50% reduction in TB incidence between 2015 and 2023, surpassing the 2025 goal ahead of time. Mozambique, Tanzania, Togo, and Zambia have also reached the 2025 milestone with a 75% reduction in TB deaths. Meanwhile, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Uganda are making significant strides, each reporting mortality reductions of over 66%.

The Eastern and Southern African subregion has been the driving force behind these gains, reducing TB incidence from 466 to 266 per 100,000 people between 2000 and 2023. However, progress has been slower in Central and West Africa, where TB incidence and mortality rates remain high.

Despite these encouraging trends, several critical hurdles remain. Limited access to rapid diagnostics is one of the most pressing issues, with only 54% of TB patients currently able to access these tools. Although this marks a considerable improvement from 24% in 2015, it still falls short of what’s needed to detect and control multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). Alarmingly, over half of MDR-TB cases went undiagnosed and untreated in 2023.

Beyond health concerns, TB continues to inflict severe economic hardships. Nearly 68% of TB-affected households in Africa face catastrophic treatment costs, including high medical expenses, income loss, and inadequate social protection — factors that hinder treatment adherence and long-term recovery.

Funding shortfalls also threaten to stall progress. The region needs an estimated US$4.5 billion annually to deliver comprehensive TB services but currently only has access to US$0.9 billion, leaving a staggering US$3.6-billion funding gap.

The WHO continues to support African nations in strengthening TB control measures, including promoting the adoption of rapid diagnostic technologies and updated treatment protocols in line with the UN High-Level Meeting Political Declaration on TB 2023.

Global health experts emphasize that urgent action is needed to close the diagnostic gap, increase investments, and expand access to life-saving TB prevention and treatment services. While Africa’s progress is commendable, sustained commitment and funding will be key to ending TB and saving countless more lives in the years ahead.