ZIMBABWE has recorded a significant reduction in tuberculosis (TB) incidence, declining from more than 242 cases per 100 000 people in 2015 to about 203 per 100 000 in 2024, an official has said.
The decline highlights steady progress in the country’s fight against TB, driven by improved treatment outcomes, stronger TB-HIV integration and sustained collaboration between government, partners and communities, despite persistent challenges such as drug resistance and high HIV co-infection rates.
In his World TB Day speech yesterday, Health and Child Care ministry AIDS and TB Unit director Owen Mugurungi commended the progress made in the past decade.
A treatment success rate of about 91% for drug-susceptible TB for the 2023 cohort, alongside improved outcomes for rifampicin-resistant and multidrug-resistant TB (RR/MDR-TB) — rising from 64% in the 2021 cohort to 68% in 2022 — underscores
Zimbabwe’s gains in combating the disease.
“We have seen a steady decline in TB incidence, improvements in treatment success rates and strengthened integration of TB and HIV services,” he said, adding that the achievements reflected strong collaboration among government, partners and communities.
However, Mugurungi warned that TB remains a major public health challenge, with thousands of new infections recorded each year, particularly among people living with HIV.
He also noted emerging challenges, including drug-resistant TB and persistent socioeconomic barriers that continue to limit access to care.
- Zim records drop in TB cases
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An estimated 34 000 people develop TB annually in Zimbabwe, with several thousand deaths recorded each year, including among HIV-negative individuals and those living with HIV. The country reported a TB death rate of 7% for the 2023 cohort.
About 49% of TB patients were living with HIV in 2024, placing Zimbabwe among countries with a high TB/HIV burden globally.
Meanwhile, National Aids Council chief executive Bernard Madzima said the strong comorbidity between HIV and TB required integrated screening and treatment.
“It is important to make sure that those who have been diagnosed with HIV are screened for TB and put on preventive therapy and those who have been diagnosed with TB should also be screened for HIV, as the two diseases are interlinked,” he said.
Organisation for Public Health Intervention and Development (OPHID) executive director Tinashe Chinyanga highlighted the importance of community-driven solutions in achieving a TB-free Zimbabwe, especially amid dwindling donor support.
He said OPHID’s community-based approach had been key in improving case detection, treatment adherence and survival rates.
OPHID pioneered the integration of TB and HIV services into primary healthcare, ensuring patients receive comprehensive care in one visit.
“Our approach is simple yet transformative: no recipient of care should have to visit multiple clinics or wait in separate lines for TB and HIV care,” Chinyanga said.
He said integrating the services ensured every person-centred visit is an opportunity for screening, prevention and life-saving treatment.
“This integrated model not only improves clinical outcomes but also preserves the dignity and time of our clients,” he said.
World TB Day is commemorated annually on March 24. This year’s theme was: Yes! We Can End TB: Led by Countries, Powered by People.
