Media

Measures to close US funding gap and secure TB and HIV services remain missing from latest budget

Press release 21 May 2025 The TB Accountability Consortium remains concerned about the Finance Minister’s failure to explain how the government will fill the funding gap created by the withdrawal of US aid. The rollout of both TB and HIV services is directly affected by the withdrawal of these funds. Any delays by the government in addressing this funding gap will have a direct impact on the provision of services at facilities that were previously funded by this aid. Just over four months have passed since US President Donald Trump dealt a devastating blow to the global healthcare community, issuing […]

New Guidelines by WHO identify the overlooked link between TB and undernutrition

In South Africa, where many TB patients struggle with poverty and food insecurity, something as basic as a regular, nutritious meal can decide whether a patient completes treatment successfully or falls ill again. However, the new global health guidelines are finally putting nutrition at the centre of the country’s TB response. In April 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its Consolidated Guidelines on Tuberculosis: Module 4 – Treatment and Care, a comprehensive document merging all previous guidelines into one. These updated guidelines introduce improved treatment regimens for people with multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB), while also placing stronger emphasis […]

[Gallery]: TB Accountability Consortium commemorating World TB Day 2025

Gauteng marks World TB Day zoning in on TB testing in mines

As part of its contribution to reduce the country’s TB burden over the next year, South Africa’s economic hub will be focusing on testing miners and getting them on treatment. On World TB Day, South Africa’s National Department of Health rolled out the End TB campaign, an ambitious plan to test 5 million people for TB this year in a bid to reduce the country’s burden. This year’s Gauteng commemoration of World TB Day took place at Harmony Gold Kusasalethu Mine on March 27, where delegates focused on the urgent need for accelerated TB testing, particularly in the mining sector. […]

Disappointing that the US funding gap has not been covered in the budget

Press release12 March 2025 The TB Accountability Consortium is disappointed that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has failed to account for the additional finances required to cover the activities that were sponsored by funding from the US government, that have now been withdrawn.If this funding gap is not addressed, critical support in the provision of HIV and TB services in South Africa will be crippled. There are about 280 000 people estimated to have TB each year and it remains the biggest infectious disease killer. Just under 60% of people with TB are co-infected with HIV. The aid that was halted […]

Addressing the growing challenge of TB in children and young people remains on the global agenda

The Union’s annual lung health conference has once again highlighted the urgent need to tackle TB in children and adolescents more effectively. The conference, which was held in Bali, Indonesia from 12 to 16 November 2024 provided a global platform for discussions on tuberculosis (TB) and lung health, focusing on issues such as the stigma surrounding the disease, the challenges of diagnosing and treating TB, the importance of improving access to TB medicines. The conference also captured the stories from TB survivors, expert insights and calls for more global action showed how much work is still needed. One of the […]