This calls for urgent intervention to address it. It is gratifying to note that in recent years, UN agencies and government have made significant strides in the treatment, prevention and care for those affected by this disease.
TB is said to be the 13th leading cause of death and the second leading infectious killer after Covid-19 worldwide, according to experts.
TB incidents in The Gambia were reported at 142 cases per 100,000 population in 2023, while in 2022, there were 2,576 notified TB cases up from 2,229 cases in 2021.
At the global level, the 2023 Global TB report, estimated that 10.8 million people contracted TB globally and that same year about 1.25 million people died from the disease, including 161,000 individuals with HIV.
This is indeed scary looking at these figures. We acknowledged the role of government and UN agencies including Global Fund in fighting this debilitating disease.
More investments are needed towards supporting the rollout of WHO-recommended TB prevention options, shorter TB regimens, rapid molecular diagnostics and tests for TB infection of which the Gambia is currently doing through the support of the Global Fund and other key partners.
Importantly, investment in research and innovation are vital to fast-track efforts to reach the end TB targets.
We need to align our policies and strategies to help make informed decisions and combat TB. Together, we can make considerable gains as far as ending TB is concerned. Let’s remember that the disease still remains a major health drawback in The Gambia.
Indeed, there has been significant investment in TB treatment, prevention and care, but yet the disease continues to show its ugly head.
Along this line, it is important for people to do aways with stigma and discrimination against people affected by the disease.
Communities need to change their approach towards people suffering from the disease. The magnitude of stigma directed at some of these people is making the job difficult as most people affected by the disease are reluctant to come out for treatment for fear of discrimination.
Thus, by bringing TB diagnosis and treatment services closer to this vital population, as it will greatly help in strengthening early detection, treatment adherence and ultimately reducing transmission within both the force and the wider community.