NEW DELHI: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged Southeast Asian nations to intensify efforts in combating tuberculosis (TB). WHO Regional Director Saima Wazed highlighted the critical need for addressing socio-economic factors like undernutrition and using innovations, including artificial intelligence, to improve outcomes. A community-driven approach remains central to achieving significant progress and ensuring equitable access to care.
According to the WHO Global TB Report 2024, the Southeast Asia region recorded its highest-ever treatment coverage in 2023, with over 3.8 million patients starting treatment. However, the region still accounts for 45% of the global TB burden, with more than 5 million new cases and 583,000 deaths reported in 2023. Preventive treatments reached only 9% of HIV-positive individuals and less than a quarter of household contacts of confirmed TB patients, signaling gaps in prevention efforts.
Funding for TB in the region rose by 70% from domestic sources, totaling USD 1.1 billion in 2023. Despite this, an annual funding gap of USD 2 billion remains, limiting the ability to implement comprehensive strategies. Saima Wazed called for enhanced multi-sectoral collaboration and resource pooling to reach every affected individual, particularly marginalized and vulnerable populations.
Initiatives like the Gandhinagar Declaration of August 2023 and commitments made during the UN’s September 2023 high-level meeting underscore the urgency of ending TB. These efforts aim to improve access to healthcare, foster innovation, and mobilize necessary resources. WHO continues to encourage collective, accelerated actions to sustain the momentum and achieve time-bound goals.
