KATHMANDU, MARCH 24

While Nepal celebrates World Tuberculosis Day with the theme 'Yes! We can end TB: Commit, Invest, and Deliver,' financial constraints are impeding the country's ambitious goal of eliminating tuberculosis by 2030.

Tuberculosis, a contagious airborne disease primarily affecting the lungs, remains a major public health concern in Nepal. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nepal had 68,000 new tuberculosis cases in 2023, with an incidence rate of 229 per 100,000 people and a mortality rate of 54 per 100,000.

The National Tuberculosis Control Centre (NTCC) organised a variety of awareness campaigns across the country. The National Tuberculosis Programme registered 40,776 tuberculosis patients in 2023, with women accounting for 39 per cent and men for 61 per cent. A total of 756 cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis were reported, according to NTCC Director Dr. Shriram Tiwari.

According to the National Tuberculosis Patient Data Survey 2024, about 51 per cent of patients and their families are experiencing financial hardship as a result of TB. Dr. Tiwari emphasised the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in eradicating tuberculosis, including the health, education, labour, and social security sectors.

Free tuberculosis treatment is available in 6,241 health institutions across 67 districts, with 800 providing diagnostic services and 117 offering rapid testing. According to the NTCC, Nepal aims to end the tuberculosis epidemic by 2030 and become TB-free by 2050. Despite ongoing efforts, declining international funding jeopardises global targets to end tuberculosis by 2030.

According to Prakash Budhathoki, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, lack of resources is the primary barrier to implementing policies aimed at eradicating tuberculosis in Nepal.

'Due to the halt of budget from USAID, which is around NPR 190 million, the programme has also suffered,' he told THT.

'Currently, approximately 40 per cent of tuberculosis patients in Nepal are not currently receiving treatment,' Budhathoki said.

According to the World Health Organisation, people with tuberculosis do not feel sick and are not contagious. Only a small proportion of people infected with tuberculosis develop TB disease and symptoms. Babies and children are at higher risk.

TB symptoms can be mild for months, making it easy to spread TB to others without realising it. Some TB patients have no symptoms.

Common symptoms of TB include prolonged coughing (sometimes with blood), chest pain, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.

'If there is a suspicion of tuberculosis, contact the nearest health posts for a free sputum and blood test. If tuberculosis is treated, it has a 95 per cent cure rate,' Budhathoki said.

'The government provides free medication to tuberculosis patients,' he added.

Tuberculosis can be completely cured if these medications are taken on a consistent basis for 6 to 8 months without interruption under the direct supervision of health workers.

In Nepal, the federal, provincial, and local governments play critical roles in ensuring tuberculosis patients have access to treatment. Experts recommend that all three levels of government work together to ensure easy access to treatment.