World TB Day 2025: Somalia’s progress in the fight against TB

A painful journey of misdiagnosis  

This is the story of a young boy whose life was dramatically altered by a series of misdiagnoses before finally receiving the correct treatment for extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB). His story is one of resilience, hardship, and ultimately, hope. 

It began with a desperate search for answers. When illness first struck, his family turned to a traditional healer for help. The treatment involved painful rituals, that left burn marks on his back, yet his condition worsened. Desperate for a cure, they sought help at a health facility, only to face another misdiagnosis. This time, doctors believed surgery on his hand would solve the problem. Despite the operation, his health deteriorated, deepening the family's fear and uncertainty. 

Determined to save their son, his parents continued seeking medical attention, until they arrived at Garowe Hospital, where he was correct diagnosed with extrapulmonary TB. After two months of appropriate treatment, his condition improved significantly, replacing the family’s despair with hope. But this came at a tremendous cost. The family spent US$2,000 in pursuit of the right care, a financial strain that pushed them to their limits. At one point, they even considered seeking treatment outside of Somalia, not sure if they would find help their son desperately needed.  

Today, thanks to accurate diagnosis and treatment, the boy is on the path to recovery. His story highlights the importance of timely medical intervention and the devastating consequences of misdiagnosis for families already facing hardship. 

A future free of TB 

TB remains one of Somalia’s most pressing public health threats, yet progress is underway. Through Global Fund investments and World Vision Somalia’s leadership, significant strides are being made in detection, treatment, and prevention, despite challenges such as drought, conflict, and displacement.  

As we commemorate World TB Day 2025, we reflect on Somalia’s achievements, ongoing challenges, and the path forward toward eradicating TB. It is unacceptable that anyone should suffer or die from a curable disease!  

Aligned with the End TB Strategy, Somalia is committed to:  

• Reducing TB incidence by 80% 
• Cutting TB-related deaths by 90% 

• Eliminating catastrophic costs for affected households by 2030​ (WHO, End TB Strategy, 2015)​ 

Somalia's progress in the fight against TB

It is encouraging to note that Somalia has made remarkable progress in its fight against TB, including: 

• The TB mortality rate decreased from 67 per 100,000 in 2018 to 63 per 100,000 in 2023.​ (WHO, Global Tuberculosis Report, 2024)​ 

• TB incidence dropped from 262 per 100,000 in 2018 to 243 per 100,000 in 2023.​ (WHO, Global Tuberculosis report, 2024)​ 

• The treatment success rate remains consistently above 90%.​ (2024 Programme results)​ 

• The number of TB Management Units expanded from 52 in 2018 to 114 in 2024. ​(2024 Programme results)​ 

• Over 700 healthcare providers have been trained to enhance service delivery

These achievements are a result of strong collaboration between the government, NGOs, and international partners. But challenges persist.