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WHO: India Shows TB Mortality Gains, But Asia Falls Short
19 Nov
Summary
- South-East Asia lags in TB decline, missing 2025 'End TB' targets.
- India shows TB mortality improvement, but regional progress is slow.
- Undernutrition and diabetes are key TB risk factors in the region.
The WHO South-East Asia Region is struggling to meet its 2025 'End TB' targets, despite some encouraging signs. While India has demonstrated improvements in TB-related mortality, the overall pace of decline across the region is too slow. Myanmar and Timor-Leste report high TB incidence rates, significantly above the global average.
Despite progress in case notification and treatment coverage, the region still accounts for over a third of global TB cases. Drug-resistant TB remains a significant threat, with 150,000 new cases estimated. Key risk factors such as undernutrition and diabetes contribute to a substantial number of new infections each year.
To combat the ongoing TB crisis, WHO emphasizes the need for protected essential TB services, integration into primary healthcare, and strengthened social protection measures. Accelerated action, sustained political will, and increased funding are deemed essential to close existing gaps and achieve the goal of ending tuberculosis.
