Sub-Saharan Africa is facing a TB emergency that is affecting its fight against poverty and impeding the continent's economic development.  In 2011 there were 548,000 TB deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa, the highest of any region in the world and accounting for 40% of all TB deaths globally. Especially the mining sector in southern Africa is heavily affected by TB.  Despite examples of recent progress and leadership, Sub-Saharan Africa is not on track to achieve the MDG-related mortality target for TB.