EDCTP Africa Office at the 2nd International Post-Tuberculosis Symposium
On 17-19 April 2023, the 2nd International Post-Tuberculosis Symposium took place at Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, South Africa. The aim of the symposium was to increase global awareness of post-TB medical complications and economic and psychological consequences and to empower TB-affected communities.
There are an estimated 155 million survivors of TB alive currently. It is estimated that 20-30% of TB survivors may have some form of disability or impairment, the most common being post-TB lung disease (PTLD), and economic, social and psychological impairment.
Despite emerging evidence, there is still a lack of international guidelines and recommendations on the follow-up of patients beyond the cure of TB. At the meeting, the current state of knowledge on post-TB lung disease was presented, and research priorities were defined, emphasising the need to embed lung health outcomes in clinical TB trials. EDCTP was represented at the meeting by Dr Thomas Nyirenda, EDCTP Strategic Partnerships & Capacity Development Manager and Head of Africa Office.