GhanaWeb Feature by Joycelyn Kyei Baffuor

Tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs, remains a significant public health challenge despite the fact that it is both preventable and curable.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a total of 1.25 million people died from the disease in 2023.

The disease, which was replaced by Coronavirus (COVID-19), has taken its place as the world's leading cause of death from a single infectious agent.

It is transmitted through airborne particles when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, making early detection and treatment crucial in controlling its spread.

Some of the common symptoms of the disease are prolonged cough (sometimes with blood), chest pain, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, fever and night sweats.

This 2025 World TB Day, which was marked on Monday, March 24, under the theme, "Yes, We Can End TB! Commit, Invest, Deliver," ignited conversations on the need for stronger interventions, increased funding in fighting the disease.

Data from the Ghana Health Service indicates that in 2024, the country achieved the highest Tuberculosis (TB) treatment success rate of 90.6 per cent of the 20,599 new cases detected.

Despite the success chalked in TB cases detection, 24,000 of the estimated 44, 000 cases were missed due to inadequate funding.

Similarly, deaths among patients on anti-TB treatment was 12, 200, representing 5.1 per cent of TB death rate, a reduction in the previous trend ranging from 8 to 10 per cent.

Speaking at an event to commemorate the 2025 World TB Day in Accra, on Monday, March 24, 2025, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh reaffirmed the government's commitment to increase funding for TB control initiatives as part of efforts to fight the disease.

He disclosed that in 2024, a total of 20,000 cases were recorded in the country.

“The government recognises the urgent need for decisive action to end TB, which statistics indicate that Ghana recorded 20,000 TB cases in 2024, marking an improvement in case detection, yet still falling short of the WHO's target of 44,000 cases annually.

“As a government, we are determined to increase funding for TB control activities, which will include essential logistics and medical supplies, improving access to diagnostic tools like GeneXpert machines and digital X-rays, and strengthening healthcare systems to ensure no TB patient goes undiagnosed or untreated. This administration, President John Dramani Mahama, will continue to prioritise these actions," he noted.

He further noted that stigma, limited access to diagnostic tools and insufficient funding remain major obstacles in the fight against the disease.

The health minister stressed the need for collaborative efforts from all key stakeholders in the fight against the disease.

“We must work together to raise awareness, support those affected, and advocate for the resources needed to eliminate TB. Together, we can make a difference and achieve our goal of ending TB by 2030,” he stated.

Although the World TB Day has passed, the call for stronger actions in fighting the disease is urgent, as the fight continues beyond a single day, and it requires continuous awareness creation, stronger interventions and sustained investments.

Each individual has a role to play, through awareness, supporting TB patients to adopt good hygiene when coughing, including avoiding contact with other people and wearing a mask, covering their mouths and nose when coughing or sneezing, and disposing of sputum and used tissues properly and encouraging testing for people who are at increased risk.

JKB/AE

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