You are more confused than I thought if you really mean "deficit has to be addressed before debt". You really don't have an understanding of what either term means. Deficit is measured in terms of and accounting period - fiscal year. Debt is measures as an accumulation of all time. You obviously don't understand. Sorry. No reflection on your intellect intended.
You could look at it that you need surpluses to apply to debt. Then you would not refer to deficit, but surplus. Either being bottom line from report of activity of income v. expenditure for the fiscal year.