The Cost of Inaction—and the Power of Investing in Women’s Health
On World TB Day 2025, Women4GlobalFund (W4GF) issues an urgent call with the Global Coalition of TB Advocates (GCTA), the Americas TB Coalition and KNCV TB PLUS: we must act now to protect the future of the global tuberculosis (TB) response—especially for women and girls in all their diversity.
Despite progress, TB remains the world’s leading infectious disease killer, claiming 1.25 million lives in 2023 alone. Women and children continue to be hit hardest. Yet, funding for gender-transformative and community-led initiatives is shrinking, threatening to undo years of hard-won gains.
The numbers speak for themselves:
- Over 3.5 million women and children have contracted TB in recent years.
- 42% of community-led organizations have had to stop their TB programs due to funding cuts.
- Countries facing high TB burdens are also grappling with sovereign debt, leaving little room to invest in health.
But there is hope—and a clear return on investment. Every $1 invested in TB and gender-transformative health responses yields $19 in economic and social benefits. These funds don’t just fight TB; they build stronger, more resilient health systems and empower the women leading them.
W4GF calls on:
- Donors to fully fund the Global Fund’s 8th Replenishment.
- Governments to ensure universal, gender-transformative TB care—including financial protection, nutrition, and anti-stigma measures.
- The Global Fund to continue directly funding women- and community-led TB responses.
- International institutions to prioritize debt relief and fiscal justice that unlock national resources for health.
The cost of inaction is devastating. But the return on investing in women, communities, and inclusive health systems is transformative.
The time to act is now.
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