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WHO report Too many tuberculosis victims
Despite a reduction in infections, 1.5 million people still die from TB
For years, the number of tuberculosis diseases worldwide has fallen. However, 1.5 million people still die each year from the dangerous infectious disease, which usually affects the lungs. However, according to the World Population Foundation, most deaths would be avoidable if more money were invested in medical research and development.
Number of diseases drops to 9.6 million
The fight against the chronic infectious disease tuberculosis (TB) is progressing worldwide. According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) global tuberculosis report, the number of ill health fell by 42 percent from 1990 to 2014 to 9.6 million and deaths by 47 percent to 1.5 million. According to the study, effective diagnosis and treatment would have saved 43 million lives since 2000.
According to the WHO report, many people still suffer from tuberculosis. Image: Henrie - fotolia "The report shows that TB control has had a tremendous impact on saving lives and healing patients," said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan. "These advances are encouraging, but if the world wants to end this epidemic, services need to be scaled up and research investments made," continued Margaret Chan.
In addition to AIDS, it continues to be the world's deadliest infectious disease
According to the WHO, more infections were recorded in 2014 than in previous years, but this was not due to major tuberculosis outbreaks. Instead, these numbers would reflect an increase and improvement in national statistics and in-depth investigations, according to the WHO report. More than half of the world TB cases (54%) were recorded in China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and Pakistan.
Despite falling numbers overall, tuberculosis is still side by side
AIDS is the world's deadliest infectious disease, according to the World Population Foundation. Most deaths are preventable, "[...] if more was invested in the research and development of effective vaccines, improved diagnostic techniques and medicines," said Renate Bähr, CEO of the World Population Foundation. According to the WHO, $ 8 billion a year is needed to fight tuberculosis, with developing and emerging countries currently providing the lion's share of $ 5.8 billion, Bähr said.
$ 1.4 billion is missing for adequate funding of disease control
On the other hand, international donors would pay only $ 800 million, which would mean that around $ 1.4 billion would be missing each year for adequate funding for disease control. According to Managing Director Bähr, Germany should therefore "stand by its international responsibility and provide significantly more funds for strengthening health systems in developing countries." The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) plays an important role here , It was set up in 2001 by the UN Special Assembly and is considered one of the most important tools for combating the three diseases. Operating in more than 140 countries worldwide, the GFATM funds national programs, working with governments, civil society, the private sector and stakeholders.
"I therefore call on the Federal Government to increase the funds for the successful operation of the Global Fund to at least € 400 million a year in the face of German economic power," says Renate Bähr. (No)