GHANA’S long and determined fight against tuberculosis (TB) is at a critical turning point and the warning signs are too serious to ignore.
A significant reduction in donor support has cast a shadow over the progress made over the years. Funding from the Global Fund has dropped sharply from about $23 million to $14 million under the new grant cycle.
This is not just a budget cut; it is a potential setback in a battle that is far from over.
As Dr Benard Ziem of the Ghana Health Service rightly pointed out at the launch of World TB Day, Ghana cannot afford to rely heavily on external funding if it is serious about eliminating TB as a public health threat by 2030.
The numbers tell a worrying story. An estimated 44,000 new TB cases are recorded annually, yet only about half are detected and placed on treatment. This gap in detection continues to fuel transmission, quietly spreading the disease within communities.
And yet, there is a silver lining. Ghana has achieved an impressive treatment success rate of about 95 per cent, while TB-related deaths have declined significantly. These gains demonstrate that when the right investments are made, results follow. But progress is fragile.
Without sustained funding, key interventions such as early diagnosis, treatment and public education could stall. The challenge of inadequate diagnostic capacity, already highlighted by experts, may worsen, leaving many cases undetected and untreated.
Encouragingly, efforts such as the provision of digital X-ray and GeneXpert machines signal a commitment to improving detection. But equipment alone will not win the fight. It must be matched with trained personnel, community outreach and consistent funding.
The reality is clear: the fight against TB cannot be donor-driven forever. Ghana must take ownership.
This is where domestic financing becomes not just important, but essential. Government must move beyond commitments and make TB control a priority within national health financing. Integrating TB services into the proposed free primary healthcare policy and leveraging the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme are steps in the right direction — but they must be backed by real, sustained funding.
At the same time, the private sector must not stand on the sidelines. As Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah rightly noted, the fight against TB requires shared responsibility. Investment in health is not charity; it is a contribution to a healthier, more productive workforce and economy.
Beyond funding, there is also a social dimension that must not be overlooked. TB still carries stigma, which discourages many from seeking early diagnosis and treatment. Public support, compassion and awareness are critical in breaking this barrier.
The goal of eliminating TB by 2030 is ambitious, but achievable only if Ghana acts decisively now. The message is simple: we cannot afford complacency.
Government must prioritise funding. The private sector must step up. Communities must remain engaged. And the public must support those affected without stigma. The gains made so far must not be lost.
Ghana has come too far in the fight against TB to turn back now. The time to act boldly and collectively is now.
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