At a webinar hosted by the TB Accountability Consortium on Thursday, scientists explained how the fight against tuberculosis is proceeding. However, despite South Africa’s progress in reducing TB incidence and improving rates of detection and linking patients to treatment, the disease remains a leading cause of death in the country.

Despite tuberculosis (TB) being a treatable disease, 54,200 people died from TB in South Africa in 2022, according to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

On Thursday, 25 April 2024, the TB Accountability Consortium hosted a webinar in which scientists explained how they were trying to gain ground in the fight against tuberculosis. The webinar discussed the burden TB places on South Africa, patients facing catastrophic costs of TB treatment, finding missing TB patients too late, as well as some of the progress made in tackling TB.

Speakers included Sizulu Moyo from the Human Sciences Research Council, Neil Martinson from the Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Ronelle Burger from Stellenbosch University and Joseph Daniels from Arizona State University.

Read the full story by Takudzwa Pongweni on Daily Maverick.

Browse the HSRC’s repository for TB-related research outputs here.