Despite falling short of key targets, Africa has seen the largest drop in tuberculosis (TB) deaths globally since 2015.
According to the WHO's 2024 Global TB report, between 2015 and 2023, Africa saw the largest decrease in TB deaths globally, with a 42% reduction, and a 24% reduction in cases.
The main reasons for this progress are:
Increased case detection: 1.9 million in 2023 vs. 1.4 million in 2020;
Better treatment coverage: from 55% to 74% over the same period.
South Africa achieved a significant milestone by reducing the incidence of TB by 50% between 2015 and 2023, surpassing the target set for 2025.
Mozambique, Tanzania, Togo, and Zambia also met the goal of reducing TB deaths by 75% by 2025, which they had set for themselves. Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Uganda are close behind with mortality reductions exceeding 66%.
The greatest progress has been seen in Eastern and Southern Africa, where the incidence of TB decreased from 466 to 266 per 100,000 between 2000 and 2023. However, Central and West Africa still face challenges in their efforts to eliminate TB.
Despite these gains, critical challenges persist. Limited access to rapid TB diagnostics (reaching only 54% of patients) hinders efforts to control drug-resistant TB. Furthermore, TB imposes a substantial economic burden, with treatment costs being catastrophic for nearly 68% of African households. A US$3.6 billion funding gap (with only US$0.9 billion available out of the required US$4.5 billion) significantly impedes TB control efforts.