LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The World Health Assembly has approved plans for a new global tuberculosis strategy beyond 2030 while also adopting major resolutions targeting diseases, misinformation, and stronger healthcare systems worldwide.
At the 79th World Health Assembly, global health authorities unanimously agreed to the plan aimed at strengthening the global fight against one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.
The decision tasks World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus with leading consultations before presenting a draft strategy at the 81st World Health Assembly in 2028.
According to the WHO, the upcoming framework will shape future TB responses by using new scientific discoveries alongside current disease trends.
The agency explained that the strategy will also connect tuberculosis programmes more closely with primary healthcare systems, universal health coverage, and national health priorities.
Also, WHO stated that the plan will help countries prepare for the 2028 United Nations High-Level Meeting on tuberculosis.
The move is intended to maintain political commitment after the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline, especially during growing global challenges linked to inequality, conflict, displacement, climate pressures, and underfunding.
The health agency noted that expanded tuberculosis treatment programmes saved an estimated 83 million lives between 2000 and 2024.
It also revealed that 2024 recorded the first decline in TB infections since the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the highest level of access to tuberculosis services worldwide.
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However, the global health agency warned that tuberculosis remains one of the leading infectious killers globally despite recent progress.
The organization blamed major setbacks on pandemic disruptions, climate-related displacement, inequality, armed conflicts, and insufficient healthcare funding, which have slowed efforts to meet the End TB Strategy targets by 2030.
Delegates at the assembly also passed a separate resolution recognizing Steatotic Liver Disease as a growing global noncommunicable disease (NCDs) burden affecting about 1.7 billion people.
WHO said obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, alcohol-related liver disease are major drivers behind the increasing complications associated with the condition.
The resolution urges countries to include Steatotic Liver Disease in national NCDs strategies while strengthening primary healthcare systems, disease surveillance, healthier diets, and measures to reduce harmful alcohol use.
Furthermore, WHO pledged support for countries implementing the recommendations while monitoring progress through regular reporting mechanisms.
“Member States also endorsed a resolution on haemophilia and other bleeding disorders to close gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and care,” WHO said, noting that nearly 70 percent of patients worldwide remain undiagnosed.
The organization added that countries are expected to improve diagnostic services, strengthen referral systems, expand access to medicines, improve health data collection, and increase public awareness.
Delegates also raised concerns about the growing spread of health misinformation, warning that false health claims threaten public safety.
They stressed the need for stronger collaboration between governments, health experts, communities, and technology platforms to tackle misinformation more effectively.
(NAN)
