World TB Day: Urgent Call for Investment in Child TB Care

Putting Children at the Heart of the TB Response

On World Tuberculosis Day, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) issued a powerful appeal to governments and international donors: invest more in tuberculosis treatment, especially for children. Despite TB being both preventable and curable, children remain among the most vulnerable groups, often overlooked in global health strategies.

MSF highlighted that in 2024, an estimated 1.2 million children under 15 fell ill with TB, yet only 685,000 were reported. Alarmingly, 43% of children missed diagnosis and treatment, a figure that has not improved in recent years. For children under five, the situation is even worse, with only half accessing proper care.

The organization is running the TACTiC project across 12 high-burden countries, including Pakistan, to innovate TB care for children. By implementing WHO’s latest recommendations, MSF aims to ensure that no child suffers or dies from a disease that can be treated.

One promising solution lies in WHO-recommended treatment decision algorithms. These scoring systems allow healthcare workers to diagnose TB in children based on clinical symptoms, even when lab tests are unavailable. Research in five African countries showed that using these algorithms nearly doubled the number of children diagnosed and started on lifesaving treatment.

However, challenges persist. Cuts in international financing, ongoing conflicts, and mass displacement have disrupted TB services, pushing children further to the margins. Without sustained investment, many will remain undiagnosed and untreated, increasing the risk of severe illness and death.

MSF emphasized that the tools to diagnose and treat children already exist. What is missing is political will and financial commitment. Governments and donors must step up to ensure that lifesaving resources are available to every child, regardless of circumstance.

World TB Day serves as a reminder that ending TB is possible—but only if children are placed at the center of the response. With greater investment, stronger political action, and community support, the fight against TB can save countless young lives.