On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day 2026, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has called on governments and international donors to prioritise children in the global tuberculosis (TB) response, warning that millions remain undiagnosed and untreated.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global TB Report 2025, around 1.2 million children under 15 fell ill with TB in 2024. Alarmingly, 43 percent of these children missed diagnosis and treatment, a figure that has shown little improvement in recent years.
MSF said children are among the most vulnerable groups but are often overlooked, especially in situations affected by aid cuts, conflict, and displacement. “Only half of children with TB are diagnosed or treated, despite available tools,” said Cathy Hewison, TB platform lead at MSF.
The situation is even more critical for children under five, where only about half receive proper diagnosis and care. Experts warn that disruptions in TB services and reduced international funding could further worsen the crisis.
MSF highlighted that implementing WHO-recommended diagnostic algorithms based on symptoms and basic clinical tools—can significantly improve detection rates. Studies conducted by MSF in several African countries show these methods can nearly double the number of children diagnosed.
Field experiences reveal delays in diagnosis remain common. In Mozambique, an 11-year-old boy showed TB symptoms for months before receiving proper diagnosis and treatment, underscoring gaps in early detection.
MSF officials stress that expanding such diagnostic approaches and increasing investment could help close the gap in TB care and prevent avoidable deaths among children.
“Every missed diagnosis pushes children closer to severe illness and death,” MSF warned, urging immediate global action to ensure all children have access to TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
MSF is calling on governments and international donors to prioritise children by scaling up access to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, and by implementing WHO-recommended approaches that can significantly improve detection and care.
