World Tuberculosis Day 2022

Every year on March 24, we observe World Tuberculosis (TB) Day to raise public awareness of the disease’s terrible social, health, and economic effects and intensify efforts to combat the global TB epidemic. The date commemorates the announcement by Dr. Robert Koch in 1882 which he had found the bacteria that causes tuberculosis, paving the path for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

TB is still one of the most lethal infectious diseases on the planet. Every day, more than 4100 people die from tuberculosis (TB), and almost 28,000 people become infected with this avoidable and treatable disease. Since 2000, worldwide efforts to eliminate tuberculosis have preserved an astounding 66 million lives. The COVID-19 epidemic, on the other hand, has halted years of progress in the combat against tuberculosis. In 2020, TB deaths climbed for the first time in almost a decade.

‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives’ is the topic of World TB Day 2022, which emphasizes the critical need to spend resources to ratchet up the battle against TB and meet worldwide leaders’ commitments to eliminate TB. This is especially crucial in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has compromised End TB progress and ensured equal access to treatment and prevention according to WHO’s Universal Health Coverage target. Millions more lives shall be saved due to increased investment, hastening the ending of the TB epidemic.

Talk show

On March 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) will host a unique virtual discussion show to honour World Tuberculosis Day. This will focus on tuberculosis (TB) under Invest to End TB. Save Lives’ emphasizes the vital need to invest heavily to ratchet up the battle against TB and meet international leaders’ commitments to eliminate TB. It is especially important in light of the COVID-19 epidemic, which has jeopardized End TB progress and provides equal access to prevention and treatment in line with WHO’s goal of Universal Health Coverage.