Each year World Health Organization (WHO) commemorates World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. 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 this disease.
The theme of World TB Day 2023 - Yes! We can end TB! – conveys a message of hope that getting back-on-track to turn the tide against the TB epidemic is possible through high-level leadership, increased investments, faster uptake of new WHO recommendations and adoption of innovations, accelerated action and multisectoral collaboration. 2023 is a critical year to push forward the agenda toward ending TB, as there are several high-level opportunities to raise visibility, increase political commitment, and enhance investments for the TB response. Heads of State will come together to deliberate on accelerating efforts to end TB, for the second time at the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB at the General Assembly in September. The UN High-Level Meeting on TB will be held alongside two other high-level meetings focusing on UHC and pandemic preparedness. There are clear linkages between all three agendas. The prioritization of TB in the agenda of Heads of State and other leaders provides a strong impetus to step up progress against this ancient disease.
This year the spotlight of World TB Day will be on urging countries to ramp up progress in the lead-up to the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB. WHO will also issue a call to action with partners urging Member States to accelerate the rollout of the new WHO-recommended shorter all-oral treatment regimens for drug-resistant TB.
References
World Health Organization (WHO). World TB Day 2023
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