Global blind spots in TB control – the need to focus on deprived urban neighbourhoods

Over half of urban populations in Sub-Saharan Africa live in deprived urban neighbourhoods, where individuals have a high risk of TB and often unfavourable outcomes. We summarise key insights from recent workshops held in Freetown (Sierra Leone) and Maputo (Mozambique), emphasising an urgent need for more coherent TB control. Encouragingly, ad-hoc solutions are being piloted in these settings, focussing on targeted TB screening with portable and accessible tests. Amid a decline in aid funding, we argue that a more focused approach to targeting TB hotspots, leveraging affordable mobile technology, is essential.