Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in Africa, demanding concerted efforts to curtail its devastating impact. The Global TB Caucus, in collaboration with key partners such as the Stop TB Partnership Geneva, the Global Fund, FIND, Light Consortium, and WACI Health, convened the fifth Africa TB Summit in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024. Parliamentarians from 18 African countries, alongside civil society organizations, experts, and development partners, participated in the summit, aiming to accelerate progress towards ending TB on the continent. The summit built upon the commitments made during the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB, focusing on enhancing awareness among parliamentarians about the current TB situation in Africa and reviewing strides made towards achieving the UN targets for TB diagnosis and treatment by 2027.
Central to the summit’s discussions were strategies to strengthen collaboration across African nations, empower parliamentarians with the necessary information to advance TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and funding. Key themes included enhancing domestic resource mobilization, refining policies, and securing increased funding for TB responses. Crucially, the summit also addressed underlying social determinants that contribute to the persistence of TB, including stigma and gender disparities. These multifaceted discussions underscored the need for a comprehensive approach that tackles both the medical and societal aspects of the disease.
A landmark achievement of the summit was the adoption of the Abuja Statement on Financing to End TB in Africa. This outcome document, resulting from a regional dialogue co-organized by the Stop TB Partnership, African Union, Africa Parliamentary TB Caucus, and the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health, represents a significant commitment by governments, parliaments, civil society, technical partners, the private sector, and other stakeholders from 22 high TB burden countries. This statement outlines a framework for increased financial investment in TB control and is set to be operationalized through the Global TB Caucus 2025 Roadmap for Africa, providing a clear pathway for implementing the commitments made.
The summit concluded with firm commitments from participating parliamentarians to accelerate progress towards achieving the goals set forth in the UN High-Level Meeting political declaration. This includes advocating for increased domestic and global funding to address existing gaps in TB control, exploring innovative funding models, and strengthening multi-sectoral partnerships. These partnerships, involving civil society organizations, relevant government ministries, departments and agencies, and private entities, are crucial for capacity building, advocacy, and coordinated action in the fight against TB. The commitments also emphasize prioritizing vulnerable groups and affected communities, investing in advanced diagnostics, and supporting research and development.
Parliamentarians pledged to enhance legislative engagement by launching and revitalizing national caucuses dedicated to TB, mobilizing fellow parliamentarians to champion TB control efforts, enacting supportive legislation, and driving public awareness campaigns. These campaigns aim to increase funding for TB and mitigate the stigma and discrimination often associated with the disease. This multi-pronged approach recognizes the critical role of lawmakers in shaping policies and allocating resources to effectively combat TB.
The summit highlighted the importance of regional and international collaboration, knowledge sharing, and political will in the fight against TB. Leaders from various African countries shared their experiences and insights, emphasizing the need for context-specific strategies and the adaptation of global best practices to local realities. The summit underscored the importance of sustained political commitment, innovative financing mechanisms, and community engagement as key drivers in achieving the ambitious goal of ending TB in Africa. The Abuja summit serves as a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle against TB, offering a roadmap for accelerated progress and renewed hope for a TB-free future in Africa.
