Filling the gap finally addressing post-TB disabilities in Sub Saharan Africa (Malawi, Tanzania, Sudan)

The project “Filling the gap – finally addressing post-TB disabilities in Sub Saharan Africa” in Malawi, Tanzania and Sudan is an interesting project addressing an issue that has long been neglected by TB programs around the world.

To give an idea of the size of this problem, it has been estimated that the number of tuberculosis survivors in 2020 is more than ten times the estimated annual tuberculosis incidence (Dodd et al., 2021). Globally, an estimated 155 million TB survivors were still alive in 2020 (47% in South-East Asia). Of them, 18% is estimated to have been treated in the last five years and 8% in the last 2 years. For the African region, it is estimated that 25.7 million TB survivors are still alive in 2020.

The project concerns activities to improve the quality of life of persons with Post TB Lung Disease (PTLD) and mental health issues related to TB. This was done through lung rehabilitation, addressing health problems after TB treatment other than PTLD, joining TB clubs, home visits, counseling, and nutritional support. The project also addressed mental health issues. It took place from 2019 to 2022, with a no-cost extension to mid-2023.