Reduction in TB treatment of 21 per cent in the first year of the pandemic

Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers.

Each day, nearly 4,000 people die from TB and close to 28,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease. Global efforts to combat it have saved an estimated 63 million lives since the year 2000.

On March 24, the world commemorates World Tuberculosis Day to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of Tuberculosis(TB).

The theme of World TB Day 2021 is ‘The Clock is Ticking’ which conveys the sense that the world is running out of time to act on the commitments to end TB made by global leaders.

Latest data from the World Health Organization(WHO) from more than 80 countries, showed a reduction in treatment of 21 per cent in the first year of the pandemic, compared with 2019.

“The disruption to essential services for people with TB is just one tragic example of the ways the pandemic is disproportionately affecting some of the world’s poorest people, who were already at higher risk for TB,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“These sobering data point to the need for countries to make universal health coverage a key priority as they respond to and recover from the pandemic, to ensure access to essential services for TB and all diseases.”

According to a report, Kenya, which is among 30 highly burdened countries with tuberculosis (TB) in the world, reported 8.5 per cent reduction in cases between 2019 and 2020.

Samwel Misoi, the Deputy Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health who is coordinating the Kenya National TB, Leprosy and Lung Disease program, said the data also revealed that 41 out of 47 counties in Kenya recorded a reduction in TB cases.

“Kisumu, Makueni, Lamu and Pokot counties recorded the highest drop,” he said on March 1,2021 during a media training session in Kisii.

He noted that they are yet to establish the reason behind the reduction but it is suspected that during the Covid-19 pandemic, use of masks, limited movement may have contributed.

Even though the cases of drug resistance TB also reduced to 86,504 (in 2020) from 96,186 (in 2019), Misoi said these particular cases are still on the rise in the country.

He said the Department of Health is working on modalities which include proper testing and prescription to deal with the rising cases.

Misoi further highlighted the need for Kenyans to go for TB testing and also take personal precautions so that they don’t contract the disease.

Ahead of World TB Day, WHO pointed out that some countries have already taken steps to sidestep the impact of new coronavirus on the delivery of TB services.

This is especially critical in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic that has put End TB progress at risk, and to ensure equitable access to prevention and care in line with WHO’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.

In new recommendations to help health authorities tackle the problem, the WHO urged systematic TB screening for the following groups: household and close contacts of people with TB, people living with HIV, people in prisons and detention centres, people exposed to silica (mainly miners).

Community screening is beneficial in vulnerable populations with limited access to health care, WHO insisted, such as urban poor communities, homeless communities, migrants, refugees, remote isolated communities, and other vulnerable or marginalized groups.