Farato, The Gambia - Public health leaders from across The Gambia gathered at the Farato Health Centre on Sunday to commemorate World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated action to combat the persistent threat of TB in Africa. The event, attended by esteemed representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health (MOH), highlighted both progress made and challenges faced in the ongoing battle against this infectious disease.

Mr. Momodou Gassama, the Health Promotions Officer for WHO Gambia, delivered a keynote address reaffirming the organization's commitment to supporting member states like The Gambia in their fight against TB. He emphasized WHO's role in setting strategic directions, developing monitoring tools such as the African TB scorecard in collaboration with the African Union, and ensuring progress towards the End TB Strategy. Mr. Gassama stressed the importance of generating and sharing knowledge on effective TB control methods, updating treatment guidelines, and expanding access to rapid diagnostic tools to accelerate efforts in eliminating TB as a public health threat in Africa.

Echoing these sentiments, the MOH reiterated the gravity of the TB crisis, noting that TB remains a disease of significant public health concern both globally and within The Gambia. Representing the Honourable Minister of Health, the Deputy Director of Health Services - Dr. Momodu T. Nyassi - highlighted sobering statistics, revealing TB as the eighth leading cause of death in low-income countries and the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19, surpassing HIV/AIDS in its toll.

Dr. Nyassi disclosed that while global TB incidence is declining, progress falls short of the WHO's ambitious targets, emphasizing the need for intensified efforts to bridge the gap. Despite challenges, The Gambia has seen notable achievements in TB control, with a reduction in TB incidence from 149 per 100,000 in 2021 to 145 per 100,000 population in 2022. The country has maintained free diagnosis and treatment services for all TB patients, ensuring equitable access to care.

Dr. Nyassi underscored the Ministry's commitment to expanding diagnostic and treatment facilities nationwide, resulting in improved access to TB services. He emphasized that TB continues to pose a significant threat, with approximately 2.5 million individuals contracting the disease in the African region alone in 2022, translating to one person every 13 seconds.

The theme of World TB Day 2024, "Yes! We can end TB!" resonates with the collective resolve to confront this global health challenge. The event emphasized the need for high-level leadership, increased investments, and the swift adoption of new WHO recommendations to accelerate progress towards ending TB. With commitments made by Heads of State at the UN High-Level meeting in 2023, the focus now shifts to translating these pledges into concrete actions to turn the tide against TB.

The 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in 2022 sparked a movement towards prioritizing childhood tuberculosis (TB) across the region, leading to a 20% increase in identified pediatric TB cases. Despite progress, TB remains a significant public health threat, with 2.5 million cases and 424,000 deaths reported in 2022. While commendable reductions in TB deaths and new cases have been achieved since 2015, meeting the ambitious targets set by the End TB Strategy for 2025 requires intensified efforts. Challenges such as delayed diagnosis and multi-drug resistant TB persist, necessitating sustained vigilance and support from stakeholders. 

As the world commemorates World TB Day, stakeholders in The Gambia reaffirm their dedication to combating TB, demonstrating that through concerted efforts and unwavering commitment, the goal of ending TB as a public health threat is within reach.