SA has made great strides in fight against TB

CELEBRATED on March 24 every year, World Tuberculosis (TB) Day gives us a chance to reflect on progress made and the challenges that lie ahead, if we are to ever eliminate this ancient yet deadly disease.

- SUSAN PURCHASE

The theme for World TB Day 2025 is “YES! We can end TB. Commit, Invest, Deliver!” This is a call to intensify our global efforts to eradicate TB.

Drug-resistant TB remains one of the major challenges as it continues to be a public health threat, both globally and in South Africa. Tuberculosis that is resistant to both rifampicin and isoniazid - the two main antibiotics used to treat it - is known as multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). Multidrug-resistant TB requires long, complex and expensive treatment with alternative or backup medications, and treatment outcomes for people with this form of TB remain poor.

Globally, 400 000 people were estimated to have developed MDR-TB in 2023. Approximately 2 million children are infected with MDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the bacterium that causes TB), and 30 000 children develop MDR-TB disease each year.