Goa: Tuberculosis remains serious The healthcare challenge In view of the increasing incidence of malaria in low- and middle-income countries and to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of reducing the incidence of malaria by at least 80 percent by 2030, countries need to implement comprehensive Efforts on detection, prevention and treatment measures will have to be intensified.

In 2023, India recorded 25.37 lakh new cases, more than in 2022, but world health agencies have attributed the higher incidence of cases to better use of tests and detection strategies.

Representatives from 34 countries, including India, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Bangladesh, met and agreed on a “goa declarationHe called on world leaders to adopt evidence- and science-based successful strategies to detect, treat, and prevent TB and demonstrate high-impact interventions that can be integrated as part of their existing programmes.

Among the key measures outlined at the meeting, held between May 15 and May 17, representatives from government agencies and health groups shared insights on several successes in their countries. One of the biggest impacts was from an intensive active case finding initiative for key vulnerable populations in Delhi, which is known to have a high TB incidence.

a quote from goa declaration “TB screening and diagnostic equipment (ultraportable X-ray and molecular testing) in a van, reaching out to key vulnerable populations (KVPs) in Delhi and making same-day testing and treatment a reality. ProRad ultraportable X-ray and TrueNat molecular testing machines in a motorcyclist’s backpack are reaching the hard-to-reach areas of Delhi and Haryana.

The increasing use of molecular tests as an alternative to the old method of centralized smear microscopy tests is seen as an important differentiator for rapid and prompt resolution of TB cases. “Microscopy used to take four days to a week to confirm TB cases. This is now happening in almost real time through indigenously manufactured TrueNat molecular tests,” says a representative deeply engaged in community activity TB diagnosis told ET HealthWorld.

The TrueNat test kit, a proprietary testing device from Indian diagnostics manufacturer Molbio, is rapidly gaining use across continents. Its portability and ability to deliver fast and accurate results is enabling a “same-day test and treat strategy”, proving to be a powerful weapon against TB.

Those molecular tests made a significant difference in detecting and treating TB among homeless people, migrant workers, inmates in night shelters, sex workers, prison inmates, people living with HIV, people who use drugs, workers exposed to silica at workplaces, etc.

Goa became the first state in India to completely replace smear microscopy tests with upfront molecular testing from December 2020. Some other examples are Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. World Health Organization has called on countries to adopt 100 per cent upfront molecular testing, replacing microscopy tests, by 2027.

The experience of early detection through TrueNet is similar in other countries. In the Philippines, the Goa Declaration reports that Fujifilm ultraportable . As a result, TB screening of people with TB is projected to increase from 180 in 2021 (before the new equipment was deployed) to 3153 in 2024.

According to the World Health Organization’s 2023 Global TB Report, more than a million people with potential TB in Bangladesh will miss out on health services in 2022. Despite these challenges, the country’s TB mortality rate will be nearly halved by 2022 compared to 2015.

Accelerating the pace of new trials will be essential to achieving the goal. sustainable development goal targetsFurthermore, in the key points of the political declaration of the 2023 UN General Assembly high-level meeting on TB, a number of targets were set by countries for 2027. Goals include:

Reach 90 percent of TB patients with diagnostic and treatment services, as well as health and social support
100 percent of people tested for probable TB will already receive diagnostic molecular testing as recommended by the World Health Organization.
100 percent of people suffering from TB receive health and social benefit packages so that they do not face any devastating costs.
Treat at least 45 million people globally between 2023 and 2027, including 4.5 million children and 1.5 million people with drug-resistant TB.
90 percent of the high-risk population (eligible for TPT) will receive TB preventive therapy (TPT).