WHO on tuberculosis in Asia: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a call for urgent acceleration of research, innovation, and collaboration to combat tuberculosis (TB) in the South-East Asia region, which continues to carry the world’s heaviest burden of the disease. The region accounts for nearly half of global TB cases and deaths, according to the health body.
The appeal came during a three-day virtual workshop organised by WHO, bringing together national TB programme managers, researchers, civil society members, and global health partners to develop strategies aimed at ending TB in the region.
Dr. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge for the WHO South-East Asia Region, highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that nearly five million people in the region developed TB in 2023, with close to 6 lakh deaths.
Also Read | Tamil Nadu launches AI-based model to predict TB death risk at diagnosis
Boehme emphasised that to meet the targets outlined in the WHO’s End TB Strategy, greater emphasis is needed on the development and adoption of new tools, diagnostics, and treatments. The End TB Strategy, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, calls for a 90 percent reduction in TB-related deaths and an 80 percent reduction in TB incidence by 2030, compared to 2015 levels.
TB has once again emerged as the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, disproportionately affecting low-income and vulnerable populations. In 2023, 3.8 million new and relapse TB cases were reported, with an 89 percent treatment success rate among those who began therapy in 2022. Countries are increasingly incorporating advanced tools such as artificial intelligence for early detection, computer-assisted diagnostics, and digital treatment adherence systems. Efforts are also being made to streamline social support through direct benefit transfers.
Highlighting the importance of expanding vaccine access and addressing the rise in drug-resistant TB strains, Boehme called for greater South-South collaboration, improved data sharing, and the development of integrated digital tools. She also pointed to the need to tackle social determinants such as undernutrition and climate change, which continue to influence TB outcomes in the region.
