Investing in Tuberculosis Control in Africa

Overview

In 2022, 1.3 million children became ill with tuberculosis (TB) and 250,000 children died of the illness globally. Africa is disproportionately burdened by TB, with 17 of the 30 highest TB burden countries located on the continent. The region reported 2.5 million new TB cases and 424,000 deaths from the illness. An estimated 322,000 children and young adolescents (under 15 years) in Africa fell ill with TB, representing a third of all childhood TB cases worldwide.

Addressing TB in Africa, particularly childhood and adolescent TB, requires significant investment in TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. As of 2022, the African region required at least $1.3 billion (USD) for TB prevention and treatment. African countries contributed 22% of the needed budget while external funding accounted for 34%, but the 44% gap hinders efforts to prevent and treat TB. Limited resources restrict access to child-friendly diagnostics and treatments, leading to missed diagnoses, delayed treatment, and increased mortality.

The funding gaps exacerbate existing social and economic inequalities. Poverty, malnutrition, and poor living conditions make children more susceptible to TB. Further, TB disrupts education by forcing children to miss school, hindering their future social and economic outcomes.

Global funding for TB research reached $915 million in 2020 but fell short of the annual goal set by member states at the United Nations High-Level Meeting in 2018, which aimed for $2 billion annually. In 2022, global investments specifically for TB decreased to $702 million, down from $772 million in 2021, with TB drug research funding dipping by nearly 12%. The urgent need for new TB vaccines remains critical, as funding for TB vaccines has never exceeded $120 million per year.

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 targets ending the TB epidemic by 2030. Achieving this requires adequate financing, reflected in SDG 17 which promotes partnerships for TB control, including mobilizing resources from domestic and international sources. Increased investment in TB control presents a range of benefits including treating the disease, reducing transmission rates, and creating healthier communities. A study by the World Health Organization in Brazil, Georgia, Kenya, and South Africa, released in 2024, shows that there is a significant economic return on investment, with every dollar spent on TB control yielding up to $39 in health and economic benefits, promoting overall economic growth and stability. Further, strengthening TB infrastructure supports healthcare systems, making them better equipped to handle all other health challenges.