TB: UN and WHO condemn Trump over fund slash

The United Nation (UN) and World Health Organisation (WHO) on March 5, warned that severe funding cuts, particularly by the United States president, Mr. Donald Trump are threatening decades of progress in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), still the world’s deadliest infectious disease.

The health agency highlighted that essential prevention, testing and treatment services are crumbling, leaving millions at risk.

Presently, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific are the hardest-hit regions.

In the affected regions, national tuberculosis programmes depend heavily on international support.

“Any disruption to TB (tuberculosis) services – whether financial, political or operational – can have devastating and often fatal consequences for millions worldwide,” Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO Global Programme on TB and Lung Health, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Recall that, on February 4, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres raised an alarm over funding cuts.

Guterres noted that the immediate impact on key health programmes, combatting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and cholera.

Over the past years, global TB programmes have saved more than 79 million lives, averting approximately 3.65 million deaths last year alone.

The US Government made the exercise successful through its financial support.

It provides about $200 to $250 million annually approximately a quarter of the total international donor funding secured.

Combating the disease

According to News Band, the U.S. has been the largest bilateral donor for programmes combating the disease.

However, newly announced cuts for 2025 through executive orders will have disastrous effects on tuberculosis response efforts in at least 18 high-burden countries.

Therein, 89 per cent of US funding will be allocated for patient care.

The impact will be particularly devastating in Africa, where treatment disruptions and staff layoffs could exponentially increase tuberculosis transmission rates.

Earlier reports from tuberculosis-affected countries indicate that funding constraints are already dismantling essential health services.

Among the most pressing concerns are health worker layoffs, drug shortages and supply chain breakdowns, data and surveillance systems collapse, and disruptions to TB research and funding.

“Without immediate action, hard-won progress in the fight against TB (tuberculosis) is at risk.

“Our collective response must be swift, strategic, and fully resourced to protect the most vulnerable and maintain momentum toward ending TB,” Kasaeva said.

WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting governments and global partners in the fight against tuberculosis.

“In these challenging times, WHO remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting national governments, civil society and global partners in securing sustained funding and integrated solutions to safeguard the health and well-being of those most vulnerable to TB,” Kaeseva said.

About TB

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs.

It spreads through the air when people with tuberculosis cough, sneeze or spit.

Tuberculosis is preventable and curable.

According to WHO, about a quarter of the global population is estimated to have been infected with TB bacteria.

Also, about five to ten per cent of people infected with TB will eventually get symptoms and develop TB disease.

Key facts

• A total of 1.25 million people died from tuberculosis in 2023, including 161,000 people with HIV.
• Worldwide, tuberculosis has returned to being the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent.
  Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) replaced TB for three years before the disease bounced back.
• It was also the leading killer of people with HIV and a major cause of deaths related to antimicrobial resistance.
• Global efforts to combat tuberculosis have saved an estimated seventy-nine million lives since the year 2000.
• TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care need twenty-two billion Dollars annually to achieve the global target by 2027 agreed at the 2023 UN high level-meeting on TB.

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