WHO urges decisive action to invest in TB control programs in Western Pacific
By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Guam records an average of 70 cases of tuberculosis a year, the territory's public health chief said, stressing the need for community vigilance amid the emergence of drug-resistant strains.
“Eliminating tuberculosis demands a united effort from healthcare providers, policymakers and our community. Every case prevented, every life saved, brings us one step closer to a TB-free Guam,” said Theresa C. Arriola, director of the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services.
“We can raise awareness, we can screen early and we can protect our community and stop the spread of TB.”
Arriola said the rise of drug-resistant TB strains makes existing medications less effective and treatment extremely difficult.
“TB infection is a real threat. The more people know about tuberculosis and the importance of stopping the spread of the disease, more focus can be shifted toward stopping it,” she added.
Nearly one in every five tuberculosis cases occurs in the Western Pacific, the World Health Organization said Monday, as it made a global push to end the disease by 2030.
WHO stressed that investing in TB control is especially urgent in the vulnerable region, which recorded an estimated 1.9 million new TB cases and 95,000 deaths in 2023.
The regional TB response has been guided by the Western Pacific Regional Framework to End TB: 2021–2030.
However, WHO noted that the implementation of the framework is hindered
by challenges such as limited healthcare infrastructure, inadequate research and innovation capacity, unaddressed poverty and inequities and lack of sustainable funding.
WHO also noted that TB cases diagnosed by private health care providers are often not reported to national TB programs, making it difficult or impossible for them to receive the latest WHO-recommended diagnostics and treatment regimens.
To address the underreporting of TB cases, WHO underscored the need to improve public-private collaboration by linking private providers to national TB programs, offering incentives for reporting and enforcing mandatory TB case reporting.
“This will help patients in private care access WHO-recommended diagnostics and treatments, which may be free or low-cost in the public sector,” WHO said in a press release on Monday in observance of World Tuberculosis Day.
TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze or spit. TB is preventable and curable with specific antibiotics, but it still kills more people than any other infection.
“Every missed TB case is a lost opportunity to save a life,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific. “We must turn our commitments into decisive action, ensuring that every person at risk gets the timely, high-quality diagnosis and care that they deserve.”
WHO observed that while most countries have integrated TB screening into their routine health services, some still face challenges.
“Strengthening these efforts will enable early detection and continuity of care, particularly in underserved areas,” the organization said. “Modern approaches and tools − such as telemedicine, portable diagnostic devices and rapid tests – can help health workers detect TB cases early and ensure that treatment and services continue even during crises.”
WHO said the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of TB services to crises and demonstrated the need for resilient and scalable approaches.
“Ending TB is about upholding the right of every individual to live a healthy and dignified life,” Piukala said. “With political commitment, sustainable funding and united action across sectors, we can accelerate progress and move closer to a TB-free Western Pacific.”
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