Nigeria: TB cases drop, but progress face poor funding
Nigeria is among countries concluded to have a high burden of tuberculosis
The number of people falling ill with tuberculosis or dying from the disease is declining around the world for the first time in 10 years, according to the World Health Organisation.
Data reported from 198 countries in the WHO 2011 Global Tuberculosis Control Report published yesterday, showed the number of people who fell ill with TB dropped to 8.8 million last year--down from a peak of 9 million in 2005.
Deaths from TB fell from 1.8 million in 2003 to 1.4 million last year, a reduction of nearly 400,000. Between 1990 and last year, death rates from TB dropped 40%.
WHO concluded all regions, except Africa, were on track to reduce mortality by half by the year 2015.
It also warns that funding problems and drug resistance could hamper current progress.
Fewer dying, fewer ill
In 2009, 87% of patients treated were cured, with 46 million people successfully treated and seven million lives saved since 1995, according to the report.
United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon said the reduction in numbers of TB deaths and illness was a major progress, but insisted it was "no cause for complacency."
"Too many millions still develop TB each year, and too many die. I urge serious and sustained support for TB prevention and care, especially for the world's poorest and most vulnerable people," said Ban.
Serious decline was in large countries, including Kenya and Tanzania, where TB burden is estimated to have been falling for most of the last 10 years after a peak linked to HIV epidemic.
Similar declines have also been reported in Brazil and China where TB deaths fell almost 80% in two decades--from 216,000 to 55,000.
WHO's director-general Margaret Chan said strong leadership and domestic financing, with robust support from donors, had started to make a "real difference" in combating TB.
She added, "The challenge now is to build on that commitment, to increase the global effort - and to pay particular attention to the growing threat of multidrug-resistant TB."
Domestic funding allocated to TB is expected to increase by 80% next year, though many low income countries still rely on external funding.
High burden of TB, HIV, drug resistance
Nigeria is among countries concluded to have a high burden of tuberculosis, along with HIV and cases of TB resistant to drugs--so-called multidrug-resistant TB (caused by resistance to the most effective anti-TB drugs isoniazid and rifampicin).
Similar declines have also been reported in Brazil and China where TB deaths fell almost 80% in two decades--from 216,000 to 55,000.
WHO's director-general Margaret Chan said strong leadership and domestic financing, with robust support from donors, had started to make a "real difference" in combating TB.
She added, "The challenge now is to build on that commitment, to increase the global effort - and to pay particular attention to the growing threat of multidrug-resistant TB."
Domestic funding allocated to TB is expected to increase by 80% next year, though many low income countries still rely on external funding.
High burden of TB, HIV, drug resistance
Nigeria is among countries concluded to have a high burden of tuberculosis, along with HIV and cases of TB resistant to drugs--so-called multidrug-resistant TB (caused by resistance to the most effective anti-TB drugs isoniazid and rifampicin).
DOTS is Directly Observed Treatment Short course, the recommended strategy for TB control.
Cost of treating multidrug-resistant will also drop, but remain far higher than regular TB. Each patient with resistant TB will require slightly less than $35,000.
Government funding of TB treatment for 2012 is expected to increase slightly over 2011, while funding from sources as Global Fund will shrink. But the highest proportion of funding is still expected to come from Global Fund and other grants.
WHO, however, spoke of developments in drugs, diagnostics and vaccines to combat TB. Results from three Phase III drugs are expected between 2012 and 2013 and could reduce time spent on treatment courses. Results of two other trials on multidrug-resistant TB are expected next year.
By Judd-Leonard Okafor
allAfrica.com
