WHO Recommends Nutritional Support in Fight Against TB – What the New Guidelines Mean for India and South Africa
3 November 2025
The updated guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasise a holistic approach to TB care, integrating clinical treatment with nutrition and social protection. The release of the latest guidelines marks a significant step in addressing social and nutritional determinants as part of people-centred care under WHO’s End TB Strategy. WHO recommends that all people diagnosed with TB, as well as their household contacts, undergo nutritional assessment and counselling, noting that “this recognises that a significant proportion of people in households with TB may be undernourished.”
India
Considering the scale and severity of TB in India, it is important to understand the implications of the new WHO guidelines and explore interventions that address both medical treatment and underlying nutritional vulnerabilities.
Read an in-depth analysis here.
South Africa
TB is clearly a serious problem in South Africa. Malnutrition has also been flagged as a major health problem in the country. As WHO releases new guidelines on TB and nutrition, it is unclear to what extent the South African government is ready to invest in providing people with nutritional support as part of the fight against TB.
Read an in-depth analysis here.
