Despite significant progress over decades, TB continues to be the top infectious killer disease worldwide, claiming over 4500 lives a day, according to WHO. To raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis, each year World TB Day is commemorated on March 24, to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The emergence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) poses a major health security threat and could risk gains made in the fight against TB. The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing the disease.

Theme

The theme of World TB Day 2018 is ‘Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world’. It focuses on building commitment to end TB, not only at the political level with Heads of State and Ministers of Health, but at all levels from mayors, governors, community leaders to health workers, doctors, NGOs and other partners. It is a critical theme, given the political importance of the upcoming UN General Assembly high-level meeting on TB this year, which will bring Heads of State in New York. World TB Day provides the opportunity to spotlight the disease and mobilise political and social commitment for accelerating progress to end TB.

In 2016, the WHO reported 10.4 million people fell ill with TB out of which 1.8 million died from the disease, making it the top infectious killer worldwide. While anyone can contract TB, the disease is deeply rooted in populations where human rights and dignity are limited like among people living in poverty, marginalised communities and other vulnerable populations. Factors such as malnutrition, poor housing and sanitation, along with risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use and diabetes, affect vulnerability to TB and access to care. The transmission of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) adds great urgency to these concerns.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 23, 2018 12:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).