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Modeling study published for Brazil, Georgia, Kenya and South Africa ahead of World Tuberculosis Day on March 24.
Photo for representation: iStock
On the eve of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on March 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged a significant increase in funding for tuberculosis detection and prevention programs. This call to action follows a new study that reveals a substantial return on investment: for every dollar invested, there is a potential profit of $39.
The report describes the results of a modeling study that investigated the costs and benefits tuberculosis screening combined with preventive tuberculosis treatment in four countries: Brazil, Georgia, Kenya and South Africa. These findings could offer information for other regions facing similar epidemiological conditions.
Read more: India still has the highest tuberculosis burden
The findings were announced on March 11, 2024 by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“The investment case outlines the health and economic rationale for investing in evidence-based, WHO-recommended interventions for tuberculosis detection and prevention that can help promote universal health coverage,” Ghebreyesus said. “Today we have the knowledge, the tools and the political commitment that can put an end to this ancient disease that remains one of the leading causes of infectious death in the world.”
Tuberculosis remains a major public health threat. It is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, surpassing the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). According to the WHO, in 2022, an estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with tuberculosis and 1.3 million died from the disease.
Furthermore, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis poses a growing public health challenge: by 2022, only about two in five people would have received treatment.
Read more: India, Indonesia and Philippines account for more than 60% drop in TB reports in 2020 and 2021
The advancement of new TB diagnostics, drugs and vaccines remains limited by overall investment in these areas, the WHO said. There is a clear need to increase efforts to combat tuberculosis effectively, the global health agency highlighted.
Given this context, the investment case is expected to serve as a crucial advocacy instrument to secure increased resources for TB screening and preventive treatment. This is aligned with the commitments made by governments during the 2023 High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis.
The global community prepares for World Tuberculosis Day on March 24 under the theme Yeah! We can end tuberculosis!
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