Mozambique: Tuberculosis kills at least 7,000 people every year

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Mozambique: Tuberculosis kills at least 7,000 people every year

8:09 CAT | 26 Mar 2025

FILE - Mozambique is among the top 10 countries in the world with the largest number of TB cases and the fourth in the southern African region. The health authorities warn that abandonment of treatment by patients is threatening efforts to end the disease by 2030. [File photo: AIM]

The Mozambican health authorities have announced that tuberculosis kills at least 7,000 people every year and affects 361 others per 100,000 inhabitants in the country.

According to Eduardo Abdula, governor of the northern province of Nampula, who was speaking on Monday, during the ceremony marking World Tuberculosis Day, at least 280 people died over the last year from tuberculosis in Nampula province, out of a total of 12,294 reported cases, of which 1,375 were children.

“This data requires that we take decisive action. That’s why we’re calling on everyone to promote tuberculosis screening among all those who show symptoms such as persistent coughing and weight loss. We encourage them to go to the nearest health centre for early diagnosis and treatment. It’s important to reiterate that treatment is free, accessible and effective”, he said.

The data shared by the Nampula governor point out that 59 percent of diagnosed cases correspond to the most infectious form of the disease.

Abdula believes that the commitment to eradicate tuberculosis is not exclusive to the health authorities, it is a collective duty that calls on the whole of society.

“We need to transform tuberculosis treatment not just into a medical response, but into a fundamental human right. Tuberculosis is a curable disease and everyone should have access to early diagnosis, with quality and humanized services”, he said.

Mozambique is among the top 10 countries in the world with the largest number of TB cases and the fourth in the southern African region. The health authorities warn that abandonment of treatment by patients is threatening efforts to end the disease by 2030.

Source: AIM