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Ending childhood TB deaths

Everyday, more than 200 children under the age of 15 die needlessly from tuberculosis (TB) — a disease that is preventable and curable.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that as many as 1 in 10 TB cases globally (6 to 10% of all TB cases) are among this age group, but that the number could be even higher because many children are simply undiagnosed. However, most of these deaths could be prevented through measures outlined in the first ever action plan developed specifically on TB and children.
The “Roadmap for childhood TB: towards zero deaths”, launched recently by global TB leaders focus on immediate actions governments and partners can take to save tens of thousands of children’s lives from TB, including among children infected with both TB and HIV.
The US$ 120 million a year in new funding for addressing TB in children from governments and donors includes US$ 40 million for HIV antiretroviral therapy and preventive therapy (to prevent active TB disease) for children co-infected with TB and HIV.
Far too many children with tuberculosis are not getting the treatment they need. Most of these children live in the poorest, most vulnerable households. It is wrong that any children should die for want of a simple, affordable cure, especially where there are community-based options to deliver life-saving interventions.
In order to turn the tide on this hidden epidemic, experts from CDC urged to scale up existing tools and investing in improved approaches for the future and also put these tools in the hands of front-line health care workers and use every opportunity to identify children at risk for TB.
Experts also recommended broadening the net and involving organisations and agencies beyond the national TB programmes that have contact with children. As much as possible, the roadmap recommends that TB services for children be mainstreamed into existing children’s health services, and more responsibility and accountability be given to primary care providers.
Moving to this type of family-centred or community-centred approach, however, will require effective collaboration and joint planning among TB control programmes, maternal and child health services, and HIV services. Only such a concerted effort can end the epidemic.

Source - The Daily Star