Namibia misses 34% of TB cases

Namibia fails to detect an estimated 34% of tuberculosis cases despite high treatment success rates, health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao has admitted.

Speaking at World TB Day commemorations in Gobabis on Tuesday, Luvindao said 8 370 TB patients were notified in Namibia in 2024, including 293 drug-resistant cases, but around a third of infections remain undetected.

“While these numbers represent lives saved, our concern lies with the people we have not reached,” the minister said, warning that undiagnosed cases continue to fuel transmission.

Globally, TB remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases, with 10.7 million people falling ill and 1.23 million deaths recorded in 2024.

Luvindao said the situation is particularly severe in the Omaheke region, which has the highest TB notification rate in the country. She attributed this to the region’s sparse population and the long distances between farms, settlements and health facilities, which make access to diagnosis and treatment difficult.

To address the gap, the ministry has stepped up active case-finding, deploying mobile screening teams equipped with digital X-ray technology to identify undiagnosed patients in remote communities, Luvindao said.

Life-saving improvements

Despite the challenges, she said Namibia has made notable progress in TB control.

The country recorded an 87% treatment success rate in 2024, just below the World Health Organisation (WHO) target, while the success rate for drug-resistant TB reached 75%, surpassing global targets.

Luvindao also pointed to improvements in managing the TB/HIV co-epidemic, with nearly all TB patients now tested for HIV and 99% of those testing positive initiated on antiretroviral therapy. As a result, HIV positivity among TB patients has dropped from over 65% in 2005 to 32% in 2025.

During the event, the minister officially launched the fifth edition of Namibia’s national guidelines for the management of tuberculosis, aimed at strengthening the country’s response.

The revised edition focuses on expanding case detection, improving diagnostic and treatment approaches, scaling up preventive therapy, and prioritising patient-centred care.

Luvindao stressed that sustained progress will require stronger domestic funding as global financial support declines, as well as coordinated efforts across all sectors.

“The fight against TB requires every sector of society to be involved,” she said.

Healthcare workers and community health promoters were praised for their role in combating TB, with Luvindao describing them as the backbone of the country’s response.

World TB Day is commemorated under the theme 'Yes! We Can End TB. Led by Countries. Powered by People', emphasising national leadership and community participation in eliminating the disease.