The city of Mbossé Coumba Ndjiguène was chosen to host the celebration of World Tuberculosis Day (WTD). Focused on the theme "Yes! We can end tuberculosis: commit, invest, act," this year's event issued a strong call for collective responsibility. It emphasized strengthening screening and treatment, with appeals for increased mobilization against the disease.

On this occasion, worrying revelations were made about the local epidemiological situation. In the Kaolack region, a prevalence of 800 cases was recorded, unfortunately resulting in 24 deaths.

The ceremony, presided over by the Deputy Governor in charge of development, Mamadou Abib Camara, was attended by numerous health and administrative authorities. Speaking at the event, Mr. Camara highlighted an alarming global reality: “We are gathered here to reiterate a troubling fact: tuberculosis remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world. By 2026, more than 10 million people had contracted this disease and approximately 1.3 million had died from it.”

The challenge of "missing cases" in Senegal

At the national level, despite significant progress, the fight is far from over. In 2025, 16,158 new cases were reported in Senegal. However, the major challenge remains detection: approximately 4,825 expected cases (nearly 23%) still escape the health system, constituting a major obstacle to eradicating the disease.

"In accordance with the directives of the President of the Republic, the State of Senegal has implemented the Integrated Strategic Plan 2026-2030. It is an ambitious framework which places the person at the center, strengthens the integration of services, accelerates digitalization and consolidates our health sovereignty," stressed the deputy governor.

A budget increase of 500 million FCFA

This government commitment is reflected in concrete actions. In 2025, the budget allocated to the National Tuberculosis Control Program (PNT) was increased by an additional 500 million CFA francs. This significant increase demonstrates the government's commitment to intensifying the response across the country.

The representative of the Minister of Health, Dr. Ousmane Cissé, Director General of Health, also reiterated the seriousness of this disease. He emphasized that by 2025, tuberculosis had claimed more lives than Mpox or malaria, thus highlighting the urgent need for swift and coordinated action.