MSF: Fight Tuberculosis in Children
Tuberculosis Fight Faces Funding Crisis: Children Most Vulnerable
Table of Contents
- Tuberculosis Fight Faces Funding Crisis: Children Most Vulnerable
- Tuberculosis Fight Faces Funding Crisis: Children Most Vulnerable – Q&A
- MSF Calls for Urgent Investment in Tuberculosis Care: A Q&A on the Crisis Affecting Children
- What is the main concern regarding tuberculosis right now?
- How does TB affect children specifically?
- What are the potential consequences of US funding cuts on TB treatment for children?
- Where are these funding cuts already having an impact?
- What populations of children are most at risk?
- What is the impact on TB research and development?
- What is MSF doing to combat TB in children?
- Key Statistics and Facts About TB in Children
- What is the call to action?
- MSF Calls for Urgent Investment in Tuberculosis Care: A Q&A on the Crisis Affecting Children
Published: 2025-03-20
MSF Calls for Urgent Investment in Tuberculosis Care
Paris, 19 March 2025 – Ahead of World TB Day, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is urgently calling on all countries and international donors to prioritize and ensure sustained investments for diagnosing, treating, and preventing tuberculosis (TB). The focus must be on children, who remain the most vulnerable population in the face of this global health challenge.
The Devastating Impact on Children
The statistics are alarming: a child dies of TB every three minutes.The World Health Association (WHO) estimates that 1.25 million children and young adolescents (0-14 years) contract TB each year. Shockingly, only half of these children are diagnosed and receive the treatment thay desperately need.
In 2022,the WHO updated its guidelines for managing TB in children and adolescents. MSF’s TACTiC project (Test, Avoid, Cure TB in Children) is actively implementing these new recommendations across MSF programs in Africa and Asia. Early results show a promising increase in the number of children diagnosed with TB and started on appropriate treatment.
US Funding Cuts Threaten Progress in Tuberculosis Treatment
MSF expresses grave concerns about the recent funding cuts from the United States, historically the largest financial contributor to TB programs. According to the WHO,the US has provided half of all international and bilateral donor funding for tuberculosis initiatives.
Dr. Cathy Hewison, Head of MSF’s TB working group, emphasizes the critical need for sustained funding:
For years, we have witnessed the deadly gaps that children face to access diagnosis and treatment for TB in countries where we work. Children at risk of having TB are frequently enough overlooked, either going undiagnosed or facing delays in diagnosis. Now, with the recent US funding cuts, these gaps in identifying and treating children with TB will only widen further which threatens to rollback years of progress in TB care. We urgently call on all countries and international donors to step up and ensure sustained funding for TB care for all, especially young children. No one should die or suffer from this preventable and treatable disease.
Community-Based Services Disrupted in Pakistan
MSF teams in Sindh province, Pakistan, are already witnessing the detrimental effects of US funding cuts. Community-based services, crucial for active screening and diagnosis in a country with a high TB burden, are being disrupted. This includes screening high-risk families and providing TB preventive treatment for children.
Dr. Ei Hnin Hnin Phyu, Medical Coordinator with MSF in Pakistan, warns of the disproportionate impact on children:
Children are already highly vulnerable to TB, and we are worried that the US funding cuts that have impacted the community-based services will have a disproportionate effect on children, leading to more children with TB and more avoidable deaths. We cannot afford to let funding decisions cost children’s lives.
Vulnerable Populations at Increased Risk
Children with weakened immune systems, due to HIV infection or malnutrition, face the greatest risk.Disruptions in TB, HIV, and nutrition services will disproportionately affect these vulnerable populations.
Research and Development Set Back
Tuberculosis in children is frequently enough overlooked in research and development trials for new tools. The recent US funding cuts have halted numerous clinical trials, hindering TB research and innovation critical for pediatric TB care. This setback delays the development of much-needed diagnostics and treatments for children.
MSF urges the pharmaceutical industry and international donors to ensure sustained investments in developing and evaluating medical tools to improve TB care for children.
MSF’s Commitment to Tuberculosis Care
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is the largest non-governmental provider of TB treatment worldwide, with 30 years of experience.MSF works alongside national health authorities in diverse settings, including conflict zones, urban slums, prisons, refugee camps, and rural areas.
MSF has also been instrumental in finding shorter and safer drug-resistant TB treatment regimens through clinical trials like TB-PRACTECAL, endTB, and endTB-Q. Evidence from these trials prompted the WHO to recommend four 6 and 9-month regimens (including BPaLM and BPaL) to treat DR-TB.
The integrated TACTiC project aims to implement the new WHO recommendations to improve the management of TB in children across MSF programs in Africa and Asia. This project also strives to demonstrate the validity and feasibility of the recommendations in diffrent country contexts through operational research and advocate for their widespread implementation across national health systems.
Tuberculosis Fight Faces Funding Crisis: Children Most Vulnerable – Q&A
Published: 2025-03-20
MSF Calls for Urgent Investment in Tuberculosis Care: A Q&A on the Crisis Affecting Children
Ahead of World TB Day, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is urgently calling for sustained investments in diagnosing, treating, and preventing tuberculosis (TB), especially among children. This Q&A addresses the critical issues surrounding TB and its impact on young, vulnerable populations.
What is the main concern regarding tuberculosis right now?
The primary concern is the recent funding cuts from the United States, historically the largest financial contributor to TB programs. these cuts threaten to roll back years of progress in TB care, especially for children, who are already a vulnerable population.
How does TB affect children specifically?
TB has a devastating impact on children. Key facts include:
- A child dies of TB every three minutes.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1.25 million children and young adolescents (0-14 years) contract TB each year.
- Only about half of these children are diagnosed and receive the treatment they desperately need.
What are the potential consequences of US funding cuts on TB treatment for children?
The funding cuts are expected to widen gaps in identifying and treating children with TB, leading to:
- Increased rates of undiagnosed TB in children.
- Delays in diagnosis and treatment.
- More avoidable deaths among children.
- Disruption of community-based services crucial for active screening and diagnosis.
Where are these funding cuts already having an impact?
MSF teams in Sindh province, Pakistan, are already witnessing the detrimental effects. Community-based services, crucial for active screening and diagnosis in a country with a high TB burden, are being disrupted. This includes:
- Screening high-risk families.
- Providing TB preventive treatment for children.
What populations of children are most at risk?
children with weakened immune systems are at the greatest risk, including those with:
- HIV infection
- Malnutrition
Disruptions in TB, HIV, and nutrition services will disproportionately affect these vulnerable populations.
What is the impact on TB research and development?
The US funding cuts have halted numerous clinical trials, hindering TB research and innovation that is critical for pediatric TB care. This setback delays the development of much-needed diagnostics and treatments for children.
What is MSF doing to combat TB in children?
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is the largest non-governmental provider of TB treatment worldwide. Key initiatives include:
- Implementing the TACTiC project (Test, Avoid, Cure TB in Children) across MSF programs in Africa and Asia to improve TB management in children.
- Conducting clinical trials like TB-PRACTECAL, endTB, and endTB-Q to find shorter and safer drug-resistant TB treatment regimens.
- Advocating for widespread implementation of new WHO recommendations across national health systems.
Key Statistics and Facts About TB in Children
This table summarizes the critical data and data surrounding tuberculosis and its impact on children worldwide.
| Statistic/Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Children Affected Annually | 1.25 million children and young adolescents (0-14 years) contract TB each year (WHO estimate). |
| Diagnosis Rate | Only about half of the affected children are diagnosed and receive necessary treatment. |
| Mortality Rate | A child dies of TB every three minutes. |
| Funding Source | The US has historically provided half of all international and bilateral donor funding for TB initiatives. |
| Vulnerable Groups | Children with weakened immune systems (HIV, malnutrition) are at highest risk. |
What is the call to action?
MSF is urging all countries and international donors to step up and ensure sustained funding for TB care for all, especially young children. No one should die or suffer from this preventable and treatable disease.