On World Tuberculosis Day 2026, the WHO African Region reports a historic turning point in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), marked by a 46% decline in deaths over the last decade. However, health officials warn that the disease still claims a life every 83 seconds across the continent.
Under the 2026 theme, “Yes! We Can End TB. Led by Countries. Powered by Communities,” Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, lauded the unprecedented progress while calling for urgent domestic investment to bridge a massive US$3.6 billion funding shortfall.
A Continent Leading the Charge
The African Region has emerged as a global leader in adopting modern medical interventions. Between 2015 and 2024, TB incidence fell by 28%, with several nations hitting major international milestones. South Africa has already met its 2025 target for incidence reduction, while Mozambique, Tanzania, Togo, and Zambia have successfully slashed TB-related deaths by 75%.
A major driver of this success is the rapid scale-up of the six-month all-oral BPaLM regimen for drug-resistant TB.
“The African Region is leading the global uptake of revolutionary treatments,” stated Dr. Mohamed Janabi. “Between 2023 and 2024, the proportion of drug-resistant patients receiving six-month regimens surged from almost zero to about 40%, the fastest adoption rate of any WHO region.”
The Missing 600,000 and Financial Hardship
Despite clinical breakthroughs, the “missing” cases remain a critical barrier. An estimated 600,000 people in the region go undiagnosed or untreated annually. Currently, only half of all patients have access to WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic tests, leaving hundreds of thousands to be diagnosed too late.
The crisis is not only biological but economic. Nearly 70% of affected households in Africa face catastrophic costs the highest proportion globally often pushing families into extreme poverty.
The Road to 2027: A Call for Investment
To meet the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting commitments which include reaching 90% of affected people with care and eliminating catastrophic costs by 2027 the region requires US$4.5 billion annually.
Dr. Janabi emphasized that while international aid is vital, sustained political will and increased domestic financing are the only ways to integrate TB care into resilient national health systems.
“Ending TB is within our reach,” Janabi concluded. “With sustained leadership and empowered communities, the African Region can end tuberculosis as a public health threat. Yes. We can end TB!”
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