Antituberculous fight in the Maghreb: the balance sheet

Abstract

The fight against tuberculosis remains a priority for world leaders: a re-emerging disease in developed countries, endemic elsewhere, it was declared in 1993, as a "world emergency" by the World Health Organization (WHO). The aim of programs is to prevent infection from spreading and perpetuating; the recommended strategies were the subject of common consent by expert committees convened by international agencies, primarily the WHO. As a result, programs of the Maghreb countries have great similarities. Though the regression in cases’s number, especially primary and post-primary forms, as well as extensive, deleterious pulmonary tuberculosis in adults, the endemic persists. The proportion of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (PET) is high. Control of "contacts" would be lacking or delayed in almost half of the cases. The cover by an effective treatment of these cases in Libya and in Mauritania stays below the required 85 %. Taken as a whole, the constituent countries of the Maghreb entity count approximately 78 000 tuberculosis patients for a population close to 100 million inhabitants, with an incidence rate of 76 for 100 000. Reducing the incidence of tuberculosis by 90 % and the mortality by 95%, to ensure that by the end of 2035 tuberculosis is no longer a public health problem is a goal within the reach of Maghreb countries. It can be postulated that by this deadline, the conditions for success will be met.