Abidjan, March 25, 2026 – Pierre N’Gou Dimba, Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage, has reaffirmed the Ivorian government’s determination to end tuberculosis by 2030. He made this statement on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, during the government’s declaration marking World Tuberculosis Day.

“I urge the entire population to unite for a stronger commitment to end this disease by 2030,” he said, calling for the support of local elected officials and administrative authorities.

Reviewing the progress made, the minister noted that 21,587 cases were detected in 2025, representing 99 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. “With this performance, Côte d’Ivoire has, for the first time, transitioned from a high-endemic country to a moderate-endemic country,” he stated. He also highlighted a steady decline in drug-resistant forms of the disease, from 4.6% in 2016 to less than 2.4% today.

According to the minister, these encouraging results are the outcome of several reforms implemented by the government. These include the decentralization of care, the use of rapid diagnostic tests, strengthened community-based monitoring, and improved availability of laboratory supplies and medications.

The President of the Republic, Alassane Ouattara, has also approved funding for health programs, despite a decline in financial contributions from international partners.

Emphasizing that the fight against tuberculosis requires collective effort, Pierre N’Gou Dimba urged the population to follow preventive measures, such as wearing masks or coughing into the elbow, and to seek medical attention promptly if a cough persists for more than two weeks.