The World Health Organization (WHO) has said in The Global Tuberculosis Control report 2005 that tuberculosis (TB) has reached alarming proportions in Africa.
The WHO report claims that most areas of the world have seen a 20% drop in TB since 1990, but rates in Africa have tripled due to high rates of HIV/Aids and poor healthcare.
Dr Lee Jong-wook, director-general of WHO, said the report provided real optimism that TB was beatable, but said it also carried a clear warning.
"We have to face the fact that we have much further to go”.
He said it would be impossible to beat Africa's TB and HIV/Aids epidemics unless the two diseases were tackled together.
"The methods, procedures and supplies needed are well known. They are getting impressive results wherever they are being used.
"The challenge now is to invest enough so that they can be used in Africa," he said.