Global health ministers vow to end TB by 2030

At least 10.4million people were infected with Tuberculosis (TB) in 2016 and only six-million of them were diagnosed.

This has emerged at a meeting of health ministers at the World Health Organisation’s Ministerial Conference in Moscow.

Drug resistant infections are also on the increase.

Calls have been made for more investment in research and development of faster-acting drugs, new vaccines and technologies to quickly diagnose TB.

Seventy-five ministers of health who attended the meeting have agreed to take urgent action to end TB by 2030.

This is a long overdue global commitment to stop the death and suffering of millions of people.

Lack of political will and inadequate investments in fighting TB have been major problems in different countries over the past two decades.

The ministers promised to minimise the risk and spread of drug resistance and to do more to engage communities affected by TB.