Professor Kogie Naidoo illustrates the ongoing struggle for tuberculosis (TB) to gain the recognition it desperately needs, comparing it to a bridesmaid forever waiting in the wings. More than a century since Mycobacterium tuberculosis was identified as the cause of TB, the disease continues to inflict staggering rates of infection and mortality globally. It stands as the leading killer among infectious agents, yet it often faces neglect in funding and public health prioritization compared to other diseases.

In 2021, the disparity in funding becomes starkly evident when comparing TB to COVID-19. The pandemic prompted over $10 billion for research and an astounding $100 billion for vaccine development, while TB, a disease responsible for over 4,000 daily deaths, languished with only about $1 billion allocated annually for research. This lack of investment extends to vaccine development specifically, where less than $200 million is dedicated to combating TB, highlighting an egregious funding gap that perpetuates suffering and mortality.

The ongoing marginalization of TB reflects deeper issues within global health prioritization, where immediate and visible threats often overshadow silent killers like tuberculosis. The analogy of TB as a bridesmaid captures the urgent need for renewed focus and investment in TB research, prevention, and treatment, to redefine its role from neglected disease to one that receives the attention and funding necessary to save lives.