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Tuberculosis

South Africa Commits to Eradicating TB by 2045

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

South Africa has taken a significant step towards ending the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic by signing the Barcelona Declaration on Tuberculosis, a commitment to eradicate TB within a generation. The declaration was signed by Speaker of the National Assembly Thoko Didiza and co-signed by Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, recognizing TB as a global health challenge that requires accelerated progress, investment in research, and equitable access to diagnosis and treatment for all. The signing ceremony coincided with the launch of the South African TB Parliamentary Caucus, a non-partisan global network of parliamentarians working to foster an enabling environment for access to TB services, research, and development.

Key Takeaways:

  • TB remains a significant public health threat in South Africa, claiming around 56,000 lives annually, with 54% of people with TB coinfected with HIV.
  • The country falls within the top 30 high-burden TB countries globally, with an estimated 270,000 people contracting TB in 2023.
  • TB-related deaths among people living with HIV have declined by 31%, but TB deaths among those without HIV increased by 25% over the 2015-2023 period.
  • TB treatment coverage improved, with 79% of people with TB identified and treated in 2023, but there is still a gap to be closed.
  • South Africa joins the Global TB Caucus, a non-partisan global network of parliamentarians working to end the TB epidemic within a generation.
  • The country will collaborate with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Global Fund, Stop TB Partnership, UNAIDS, and other multilateral organisations to achieve this goal.
  • TB continues to exacerbate poverty, with more than half of households affected by TB facing catastrophic costs.
  • The South African TB Parliamentary Caucus will focus on mobilising parliamentarians to raise awareness, advocate for better government investments in addressing the disease, and promote access to TB services, research, and development.

Statistics:

  • 1.5 million lives are claimed by TB annually worldwide.
  • 56,000 people die from TB in South Africa every year.
  • 270,000 people contract TB in South Africa annually.
  • 54% of people with TB in South Africa are coinfected with HIV.
  • 79% of people with TB in South Africa are identified and treated annually.
  • 22% case fatality rate among people with TB in South Africa in 2023.
  • Half a million people in South Africa died from TB between 2015 and 2023.
  • 31% decline in TB-related deaths among people living with HIV in South Africa between 2015 and 2023.
  • 25% increase in TB deaths among people without HIV in South Africa between 2015 and 2023.

Sources:

  • Speaker of the National Assembly Thoko Didiza
  • Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi
  • Department of Health
  • Barcelona Declaration on Tuberculosis
  • World Health Organisation (WHO)
  • Global Fund
  • Stop TB Partnership
  • UNAIDS

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