World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, March 2024, continues with the theme “Yes! We can end TB”.

Tuberculosis, called TB, results from bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis infecting your body, mainly the lungs, but other body parts are vulnerable too. This disease spreads through the air when infected persons cough or sneeze. While mostly affecting the lungs, TB bacteria can travel and harm other organs. Common symptoms include chronic cough with blood, fever, chills

However, World Tuberculosis Day is observed on March 24th every year to create awareness about the global tuberculosis epidemic and promote tuberculosis control efforts to eliminate the disease . The theme of World TB Day in 2024 remains “Yes! We Can End TB.” This article discusses the importance of World TB Day and looks into the statistics pertinent to the celebration. Additionally, the article explores the mounting pressure and counter pressures in the journey to end TB.

Global impacts of tuberculosis

Tuberculosis ranks in the top 10 causes of deaths globally, making its prevalence and mortality cases appalling. WHO in 2020 indicates, an estimated 10 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.5 million people died from the disease. However, developing and some developed countries have registered the high rates of the infection due to the health and economic cost involved.These statistics show that it is more important than ever to redouble efforts and rally global action to fight against tuberculosis.

Theme: "Yes! We Can End TB

The theme for World Tuberculosis Day 2024 inspires hope and reinforces the incredible power of collective action towards eradicating the scourge. It is a call to action for more ingenious solutions, increased coordination between stakeholders, optimal integration of TB services into wider health systems, and intensified action. For governments, healthcare workers, scientists, and communities , this theme calls to work together to strive for a TB-free world.

Taking a Multifaceted Approach

The tuberculosis epidemic has to be tackled with a multifaceted approach. Primary prevention, including measures to raise awareness of transmission risks, promote infection control, improve living conditions, and ensure access to quality care, will help reduce the risk of TB contraction. Screening and timely diagnosis, followed by therapy, are also critical for interrupting tuberculosis transmission and lowering the death rate from TB. Adequate financing and research backing are essential to allow the need for diagnostic advances, novel medications to treat TB, and successful new TB vaccines.

Promoting Equity and Social Justice

The goal of ending TB can only be achieved by taking action to address the social determinants responsible for the disease’s unequal burden among marginalized populations. Factors like, poverty, lack of access to quality healthcare, stigma, and discrimination against vulnerable populations hinder effective TB programming. A right-based approach, a guarantee of human rights enjoyment, low access to quality healthcare services and poor community engagement should be possible to get strings on TB control and prevention.

On 24th March 2024, World Tuberculosis Day is a day on which the world is reminded to recommit to end the tuberculosis epidemic. Working together, developing new ways of working, sustained advocacy, we can prevent a significant number of new cases, more people will get diagnosed and treated, and more and more people will receive the care and support they need. Through actions to redress social determinants and advance equity, we can indeed envisage a future where the tuberculosis epidemic is a thing of the past.

Remember, your participation matters. Join the global movement on World TB Day 2024 and contribute towards building a TB-free world.