Investing in anti-TB programs is beneficial not only for people suffering from the disease, but also for health systems and pandemic preparedness.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reversed the gains made in the fight against tuberculosis. After saving the lives of 66 million people since 2000, and for the first time in more than a decade, mortality associated with the disease increased in 2020.
In addition to the appearance of the coronavirus, the multiple conflicts in Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East have worsened the situation experienced by the most vulnerable population groups.
Given these reasons and coinciding with World Tuberculosis Day, the World Health Organization requests that investments, aid, care and information be urgently increased in the fight against this condition.
Investing in tuberculosis is also investing against pandemics
The figures presented by the UN health agency speak for themselves. Global investment in tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment in 2020 did not reach even half of the global goal planned for 2022, which amounts to $13 billion annually. In addition to that amount, another 1.1 billion needs to be allocated to research and development.
According to information available to the Organization, investments in anti-tuberculosis programs have proven to be beneficial not only for people suffering from the disease, but also for health systems and pandemic preparedness.
“Based on the lessons learned from COVID-19 research, it is necessary to catalyze investment and action to accelerate the development of new tools, especially new vaccines against tuberculosis ,” says the WHO.
The Global Fund/Thierry Falise. A laboratory worker works with anti-tuberculosis drugs. File photo: Global Fund against Tuberculosis/Thierry Falise
More funding is needed
At this time, and mainly due to lack of funding, neither the goals of the political declaration of the high-level meeting of the United Nations set for 2022 nor those of the emblematic initiative of the director general of the Organization FIND.TREAT.ALL .
Treatments against tuberculosis between 2018 and 2020 reached 20 million people, a figure that only covers half of the 40 million expected in the goal set for the period between 2018 and 2022.
During this last period, prophylactic treatments against the disease were administered to 8.7 million people, that is, only 29% of the 30 million expected.
WHO/Joshua Cogan. A patient receives treatment against tuberculosis in Lima.
Children and adolescents bear the brunt
In this gloomy panorama, the situation for children and adolescents who suffer from the disease is even more complicated.
The Organization estimates that in 2020, 63% of children and adolescents under 15 years of age with tuberculosis did not receive treatment or there is no evidence that they were provided with diagnostic and treatment services against the disease.
The percentage was even higher, 72%, for children under 5 years of age. Nearly two-thirds of eligible children that age did not receive preventive treatment for tuberculosis and are at risk of becoming ill as a result.
Furthermore, it is worth remembering that COVID-19 disproportionately affected children and adolescents with tuberculosis or who were at risk of contracting it, as transmission increased in their homes and they had fewer opportunities to go to a health center.
Coinciding with the anniversary, the health agency asks countries to urgently restore access to tuberculosis care services for all people who need them and, above all, for children and adolescents, after the interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tuberculosis remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases. More than 4,100 people lose their lives every day and nearly 30,000 contract this disease that can be prevented and cured.
Updated guidelines to care for children and adolescents with tuberculosis The guidance includes new recommendations on patient-centered diagnosis, prevention and treatment:
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