By Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia
The impact of TB extends beyond health, imposing severe financial burdens on affected families. In our South-East Asia region, 30%–80% of TB-affected households experience catastrophic costs. In 2023, our region accounted for more than 45% of people who developed TB, as well as approximately half the number of estimated deaths that year.
Nonetheless, our region has made commendable strides towards ending TB in the post-COVID-19 era. In 2023, more than 3.8 million people with new and relapse instances of TB were notified across the Region. We achieved a treatment success rate of 89% among people with a new or relapse cases of TB who started treatment in 2022. The missed TB cases reduced to 22% in 2023, compared to 44% in 2020, and initiated TB preventive treatment for nearly 1.5 million people.
We still face several challenges, primarily dwindling resources from partners and major donors. Several of our countries are rolling-out newer diagnostics and drugs, including the newer regimen for drug-resistant forms of TB – and this is impacted by the resource reductions.
The way forward is clear.
We need greater investments towards a holistic approach towards TB, that also includes social support for patients.
We cannot end TB by continuing to work in silos. Thus, we need to strengthen and leverage partnerships with other UN agencies, WHO Collaborating Centres and other research organisations located in Member States, as well as the private sector.
Stronger South–South collaboration is needed, for research and innovation to prevent, detect and treat TB. Our countries have ample expertise and experience in development of new technologies and innovations for people-friendly approaches. We need to share this knowledge and experience, to replicate them in other settings for improved access to the benefits of such research and innovation.
Finally, our core strength in national programmes is the communities that we serve. Community engagement is essential, from planning to monitoring TB services, addressing stigma and discrimination and promote equity in TB service access.
World Tuberculosis Day, marked annually on 24 March, raises awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch discovered the bacterium that causes TB.
WHO reaffirms its commitment to support all Member States in our collective fight against TB. As the theme of World TB Day 2025 reminds us, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.”