LocationsIn his World TB Day message, Dr. Mohamed Abchir stresses that domestic funding is critical to sustaining progress against Tuberculosis and bridging the gaps left by international funding.
Country Leadership and Community-Driven Action: The Key to Ending TB
March 23, 2026
Through Global Fund support, South Sudan is advancing its TB diagnostics and treatment. 23,881 TB cases successfully treated in 2025.
UNDP South Sudan/Michael Mubangizi
Every year on 24 March, the world observes World Tuberculosis (TB) Day to raise awareness about the disease and honour the lives lost to it. On this day, we also reaffirm our commitment to ending TB—one of the deadliest infectious diseases and a leading cause of death among people living with HIV. While global efforts have saved approximately 83 million lives since 2000, progress remains fragile, threatened by persistent funding gaps, global uncertainty, and disruptions to supply chains.
The 2026 World TB Day theme, “Yes! We Can End TB! Led by Countries. Powered by People,” underscores the critical importance of country leadership and shared responsibility. It calls for TB responses to be owned, led, and primarily financed at the national level, driven by innovation and the collective efforts of communities and partners.
However, recent reductions in donor funding pose a serious threat to TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the countries most affected are those that have relied heavily on bilateral funding from the United States Government and grants from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. WHO analysis further reveals that most countries receiving USAID bilateral TB funds in 2024 were also highly dependent on Global Fund support.
The 2026 World TB Day theme renews hope that we can end TB – led by countries, powered by people.
UNDP South Sudan
Mitigating the impact of funding cuts
The situation remains critical. The 2025 World TB Report indicates that only two in five people with drug-resistant TB accessed treatment. Of the estimated 390,000 people who developed multidrug-resistant TB in 2024, just 42% (164,545) received treatment—virtually unchanged from the previous year. In this context, mitigating the impact of funding cuts and mobilising stronger political and financial commitment—including significantly increasing domestic resources—is essential to protect the hard-won gains against TB.
Dr. Mohamed Abchir stresses that domestic funding is vital to protecting progress against Tuberculosis and mitigating the impact of funding cuts
UNDP South Sudan
In South Sudan, an estimated 38,000 people were affected by TB in 2025. Support from the Global Fund, its donors, and implementing partners continues to strengthen TB prevention, diagnosis, and care, while also enhancing pandemic preparedness and response.
These efforts have yielded encouraging results: TB case notification rose to 28,119 cases (74% of the estimated burden) in 2025, up from 26,656 the previous year. Treatment outcomes also improved, with 23,881 TB cases (88%) successfully treated in 2025, surpassing the target of 87%. These gains are attributable to enhanced diagnostic capacity, availability of TB medicines, improved patient monitoring, and the decentralisation of TB services to 180 health facilities across the country.
Through Global Fund support, South Sudan is rapidly advancing its TB diagnostics and treatment by deploying modern equipment like GeneXpert and digital X-ray machines.
UNDP South Sudan/ Michael Mubangizi
Addressing Social Barriers to TB Control
Sustained progress requires more than funding alone. TB services must be fully integrated into primary healthcare to improve accessibility and eliminate stigma. Greater attention must also be given to the underlying social determinants that fuel TB transmission and undermine treatment success, including food insecurity, malnutrition, and the devastating effects of climate shocks such as flooding and drought. Equally important is the wider adoption of innovative diagnostic tools and technologies, including AI-powered digital X-rays and GeneXpert machines, to enable faster and more accurate diagnosis.
In line with the 2026 World TB Day theme, concerted efforts are needed to empower communities to lead the uptake of TB services and reduce stigma. Above all, the long-term sustainability of Global Fund-supported health programmes in South Sudan must remain a priority.
Data-Driven Responses
Patients queue for care at Juba Teaching Hospital. Global Fund support ensures consistent TB medicine availability, improving treatment access nationwide.
UNDP South Sudan/ Michael Mubangizi
UNDP is actively supporting high-level health advocacy alongside the Ministry of Health, implementing partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen integrated HIV and TB service delivery. For example, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNDP, is currently leading a comprehensive review of the national HIV and TB programmes. The National Strategic Plans are being updated to ensure responses to both diseases are evidence-based, efficient, and effectively reach those most in need.
Beyond the annual commemoration of World TB Day, UNDP remains firmly committed to sustaining and building upon the gains achieved in the fight against TB and related co-infections in South Sudan.