The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that cuts in global health funding are jeopardizing progress in the fight against Tuberculosis (TB). The WHO highlighted that TB remains the deadliest infectious disease, claiming over one million lives annually, with devastating impacts on families and communities worldwide.
In a statement marking World TB Day, themed “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” the WHO called for immediate and significant investment to protect and sustain TB care and support services for those in need across regions and countries.
World TB Day, observed on March 24 each year, aims to raise awareness about TB and mobilize efforts to secure political commitment, resources, and healthcare financing to eliminate the disease. WHO emphasized that while global efforts have saved an estimated 79 million lives since 2000, the recent drastic reductions in global health funding threaten to undo these gains.
The organization also noted the growing challenge of drug resistance, particularly in Europe, and the impact of ongoing conflicts in regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe, which are exacerbating the situation for the most vulnerable populations.
WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, stressed that the theme for this year’s World TB Day is a call to action for urgency, accountability, and hope. “The significant progress we have made against TB in the past two decades is now at risk due to funding cuts that are disrupting access to prevention, screening, and treatment services,” he said. “But we cannot back down from the commitments made by world leaders at the UN General Assembly just 18 months ago to accelerate the fight against TB.”
Tedros reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to collaborating with donors, partners, and affected countries to mitigate the impact of these funding cuts and explore innovative solutions to sustain TB programs.
The WHO also reported severe disruptions in TB response efforts, particularly in countries with the highest TB burdens. The greatest impact is being felt in the WHO African Region, followed by Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific Regions. Early reports indicate significant setbacks due to the funding cuts, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated global action.
In response to the challenges, WHO and the Civil Society Task Force on Tuberculosis are calling for immediate and unified efforts from governments, global health leaders, donors, and policymakers to prevent further disruptions to TB services.
The WHO is urging individuals, communities, governments, and donors to step up their efforts to end TB and to urgently invest in the resources necessary to protect and maintain essential TB care and support services across the globe.
