https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250325/world-tb-day-africa-should-focus-more-on-developing-countries-burkinabe-doctor-says-1071263493.html
World TB Day: Africa Should Focus More on Developing Countries, Burkinabe Doctor Says
World TB Day: Africa Should Focus More on Developing Countries, Burkinabe Doctor Says
Sputnik Africa
Currently, Africa lacks not only pulmonologists and microbiologists but also the infrastructure needed to fight tuberculosis, a doctor from Burkina Faso's... 25.03.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-03-25T16:08+0100
2025-03-25T16:08+0100
2025-03-25T16:34+0100
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Africa should pay more attention to developing countries in terms of tuberculosis (TB) fight and research, Dr. Zekiba Tarnagda from Burkina Faso's Health Research Institute told Sputnik Africa on the occasion of World TB Day, observed on March 24.TB mortality in Burkina Faso remains high, with a rate of 8.7% in 2021, the doctor pointed out.Africa must also rise to the challenge of finding a new vaccine, Tarnagda emphasized. Meanwhile, the Tanzanian Ministry of Health reported a 40% reduction in TB morbidity in eight years, thanks to the government's heavy investment in the health sector, particularly in infrastructure, medical equipment and access to medicines.The TB infection rate in Tanzania has decreased from 308 patients per 100,000 people in 2015 to 183 patients per 100,000 people in 2024. Deaths from TB have also decreased by 68%, from 58,000 deaths in 2015 to 18,400 deaths in 2024, the Ministry of Health said.At the same time, at least 28,701 TB cases of various types were diagnosed in Angola's capital Luanda in 2024, local health director Fernando Varela told the Angola Press Agency.A total of 1,040 deaths were recorded in Luanda, often due to patients seeking care at advanced stages of the disease, the official added.To address the high TB caseload compared to other provinces, authorities plan to expand medical services by 20% in 2025, increasing the number of health units and extending direct observation treatment and diagnostic services across Luanda's municipalities, he added.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250323/africa-leads-world-in-reducing-number-of-deaths-from-tuberculosis-1071223123.html
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World TB Day: Africa Should Focus More on Developing Countries, Burkinabe Doctor Says
Elizaveta Roschina
Writer/Editor
Currently, Africa lacks not only pulmonologists and microbiologists but also the infrastructure needed to fight tuberculosis, a doctor from Burkina Faso's Health Research Institute said.
Africa should pay more attention to
developing countries in terms of tuberculosis (TB) fight and research,
Dr. Zekiba Tarnagda from Burkina Faso's Health Research Institute told
Sputnik Africa on the occasion of World TB Day, observed on March 24.
TB mortality in Burkina Faso remains high, with a rate of 8.7% in 2021, the doctor pointed out.
"Researchers from countries constrained by colonialism, neocolonialism or imperialism should diversify their collaborations by reaching out more to developing countries that are also at the forefront of modernization," he said.
Africa must also rise to the challenge of finding a new vaccine, Tarnagda emphasized.
"African researchers must overcome their complexes and develop a new vaccine to replace the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, which is given to newborns for protection. This protection averages 75-80%, but can drop to 19% in some newborns," the specialist noted.
Meanwhile, the Tanzanian Ministry of Health
reported a 40% reduction in TB morbidity in eight years, thanks to the government's heavy investment in the health sector, particularly in infrastructure, medical equipment and access to medicines.
The TB infection rate in
Tanzania has decreased from 308 patients per 100,000 people in 2015 to 183 patients per 100,000 people in 2024. Deaths from TB have also
decreased by 68%, from 58,000 deaths in 2015 to 18,400 deaths in 2024, the Ministry of Health said.
At the same time, at least 28,701 TB cases of various types were diagnosed in Angola's capital Luanda in 2024, local health director Fernando Varela told the Angola Press Agency.
A total of 1,040 deaths were recorded in Luanda, often due to patients seeking care at advanced stages of the disease, the official added.
To address the high TB caseload compared to other provinces, authorities plan to expand medical services by 20% in 2025, increasing the number of health units and extending direct observation treatment and diagnostic services across Luanda's municipalities, he added.
