Our team had the pleasure of attending the 8th SA TB conference in Durban from 4 to 7 June 2024. The conference was focused on the World Health Organization (WHO) “End TB” Strategy, which aims to end global TB epidemic by 2035 and can only be achieved through collaborative efforts from all stakeholders. In South Africa, 148 people die daily because of tuberculosis, despite the progress made in the past 10 years, reducing the TB incidence by 57% and mortality by 72%. This continued mortality underpins the need to accelerate progress to end TB.

Presentations and discussions held at the TB conference were enlightening and admirable as we learned about the work being done to make the End TB Strategy a reality. The outcome of the TB national survey was revelational, as it showed that 58% of people treated for TB did not exhibit the known cardinal symptoms for TB screening namely, coughing, night sweats, fever, weight loss and hemoptysis, these patients are termed “asymptomatic”. This leads us to ask how best to fight TB, if we are unable to symptomatically identify it?

Prevention is key, as are improved treatment regimens to shorten the TB treatment period, collaborative work in policy creation and amending and communities taking charge of mandatory programs to achieve the End TB strategy.

Emphasis was made to increase uptake of TB preventative therapy (TPT) for people at considerable risk of contracting TB. Recent literature advocates for nutritional supplements to be used as vital tool to reduce the incidence of TB by as much as 39-48%, therefore eradicating poverty and provision of food supplements is essential. The ongoing TB vaccines studies leave us hopeful for effective future prevention of TB but while the vaccine research is ongoing other preventative methods should be prioritized, and better and cheaper diagnostic tests at community level must be fast tracked.

The fight against TB can only be won when we fight it together, involving all stakeholders with continued financial investment and support from all levels.

-Dr Nkosilathi Dlodlo