LUANDA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 28,701 cases of tuberculosis have been recorded in Luanda, Angola's capital, in 2024, the local media outlet Angola Press Agency reported Monday.

A total of 1,040 deaths were also recorded during this period in Luanda, attributing many fatalities to late-stage diagnosis, with patients often seeking medical care in critical condition, Fernando Varela, the provincial health director of Luanda, was quoted as saying.

He said that Luanda has 50 health facilities treating tuberculosis, and due to the province's large population, authorities plan to increase that number by at least 20 percent.

"Many patients arrive in critical condition with severe lung damage and breathing difficulties," he said, adding that expanding healthcare services could improve public awareness and education on tuberculosis.