WHO: Deaths from HIV, tuberculosis and malaria increased globally during the pandemic

During the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, many countries around the world focused on containing the disease, leading to a series of delays in preventing and treating other infectious diseases.

The head of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, said global "progress" against HIV, malaria and tuberculosis had stalled or reversed in recent years.

Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund, confirmed these findings and noted that the number of people dying from HIV, tuberculosis and malaria in 2021 had increased significantly due to the pandemic.

In addition, the number of HIV tests globally had fallen by 41% in that period, and the number of referrals for TB detection, treatment and prevention had fallen by 56%. This situation is more common in low- and middle-income countries.

WHO has therefore concluded that the process of immunization against infectious diseases needs to be strengthened.