Treatment for tuberculosis has saved the lives of more than 22 million people, yet challenges remain, according to the United Nations health agency.

In its 2013 Global Tuberculosis Report launched in London on Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) also says the number of people ill with TB fell to 8.6 million in 2012.

TB deaths decreased to 1.3 million, the report adds.

The agency points out that the report is based primarily on data reported by 178 Members States and a total of 197 countries and territories that collectively have more than 99% of the world’s TB cases.

WHO says the new data confirm that the world is on track to meet the goal of reversing TB incidence by 2015 as set in the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Derrick Mbatha reports.

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