Statement on the WHO 2022 TB Report
On October 27, the WHO released the 2022 Global TB Report, bearing alarming news, with the fight against TB continuing to be severely disrupted since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the report highlights some success stories, such as TB case notifications in some high-burden countries making a considerable recovery last year compared to the significant reductions seen in 2020, globally, we are still falling far behind most End TB and UNHLM targets on TB treatment, prevention and funding. Genuine political commitment to meet these targets is critical, as made clear by WHO’s urgent calls to action in the report. In light of this, the advocacy actions we take together are ever more important.
Key takeaways from the 2022 Global TB Report:
TB incidence has increased: Last year, an estimated 10.6 million developed TB, compared to 10.1 in 2021.
TB deaths have increased: For the second year in a row, annual TB deaths have increased, which, prior to COVID-19, had not occurred since 2005. 1.6 million people died of TB last year, compared to 1.5 million in 2020, and 1.4 million in 2019.
Case notifications are still lagging behind pre-COVID-19 levels: 6.4 million cases notified in 2021, compared to 7.1 million in 2019, suggesting continued under-diagnosis of TB.
What Stop TB Canada is doing to support the fight against TB:
As a network of TB researchers, practitioners and advocates based in Canada, we call for action to end TB at home and abroad. Some of the network’s advocacy activities include:
Meeting with and writing to Members of Parliament and Health Ministers to get raise awareness for TB and to get ending TB in Canada on the political agenda
Tracking Canada’s progress to global and domestic TB elimination targets
Launching a report on the impacts of COVID-19 on TB programs across Canada, and presenting its findings to policymakers to call for action to mitigate TB care disruptions
Advocating for access to TB regimens
Calling for TB to be considered in the federal budget
Calling for Canada to invest in global TB elimination, through the mechanisms like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and TB REACH
·Engage with domestic and global partners in the 1/4/6x24 campaign, which aims to improve access to scientific advances in TB treatment.
Join the Stop TB Canada Network today to contribute to our advocacy towards a world without TB.