Afrigather Farato, The Gambia – Public well being leaders from throughout The Gambia gathered on the Farato Well being Centre on Sunday to commemorate World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, underscoring the pressing want for coordinated motion to fight the persistent menace of TB in Africa. The occasion, attended by esteemed representatives from the World Well being Group (WHO) and the Ministry of Well being (MOH), highlighted each progress made and challenges confronted within the ongoing battle towards this infectious illness.
Mr. Momodou Gassama, the Well being Promotions Officer for WHO Gambia, delivered a keynote deal with reaffirming the group’s dedication to supporting member states like The Gambia of their battle towards TB. He emphasised WHO’s position in setting strategic instructions, growing monitoring instruments such because the African TB scorecard in collaboration with the African Union, and making certain progress in direction of the Finish TB Technique. Mr. Gassama harassed the significance of producing and sharing information on efficient TB management strategies, updating remedy tips, and increasing entry to speedy diagnostic instruments to speed up efforts in eliminating TB as a public well being menace in Africa.
Echoing these sentiments, the MOH reiterated the gravity of the TB disaster, noting that TB stays a illness of great public well being concern each globally and inside The Gambia. Representing the Honourable Minister of Well being, the Deputy Director of Well being Providers – Dr. Momodu T. Nyassi – highlighted sobering statistics, revealing TB because the eighth main reason behind loss of life in low-income international locations and the second main infectious killer after COVID-19, surpassing HIV/AIDS in its toll.
Dr. Nyassi disclosed that whereas world TB incidence is declining, progress falls wanting the WHO’s bold targets, emphasizing the necessity for intensified efforts to bridge the hole. Regardless of challenges, The Gambia has seen notable achievements in TB management, with a discount in TB incidence from 149 per 100,000 in 2021 to 145 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022. The nation has maintained free prognosis and remedy providers for all TB sufferers, making certain equitable entry to care.
Dr. Nyassi underscored the Ministry’s dedication to increasing diagnostic and remedy services nationwide, leading to improved entry to TB providers. He emphasised that TB continues to pose a big menace, with roughly 2.5 million people contracting the illness within the African area alone in 2022, translating to at least one particular person each 13 seconds.
The theme of World TB Day 2024, “Sure! We are able to finish TB!” resonates with the collective resolve to confront this world well being problem. The occasion emphasised the necessity for high-level management, elevated investments, and the swift adoption of recent WHO suggestions to speed up progress in direction of ending TB. With commitments made by Heads of State on the UN Excessive-Degree assembly in 2023, the main focus now shifts to translating these pledges into concrete actions to show the tide towards TB.
The 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in 2022 sparked a motion in direction of prioritizing childhood tuberculosis (TB) throughout the area, resulting in a 20% improve in recognized pediatric TB instances. Regardless of progress, TB stays a big public well being menace, with 2.5 million instances and 424,000 deaths reported in 2022. Whereas commendable reductions in TB deaths and new instances have been achieved since 2015, assembly the bold targets set by the Finish TB Technique for 2025 requires intensified efforts. Challenges akin to delayed prognosis and multi-drug resistant TB persist, necessitating sustained vigilance and help from stakeholders.
Because the world commemorates World TB Day, stakeholders in The Gambia reaffirm their dedication to combating TB, demonstrating that via concerted efforts and unwavering dedication, the aim of ending TB as a public well being menace is inside attain.
