Each year, we commemorate World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on March 24 to raise awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to step up efforts to end the TB epidemic.
In Western Pacific Region, an estimated 13 million lives have been saved and 23 million TB patients were successfully treated since 2000. However, TB remains the deadliest infectious killer, a major public health issue. Each day, over 250 people lose their lives to TB and close to 5,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease. The theme of World TB Day 2020 - It's time. This World TB Day calls on governments, affected communities, civil society organizations, health-care providers, and national/international partners to unite forces to reach the unreached.
It’s time for action! It’s time to End TB.
The theme of World TB Day 2020 - ‘It’s time’ – puts the accent on the urgency to act on the commitments made by global leaders to:
- scale up access to prevention and treatment;
- accountability;
- ensure sufficient and sustainable financing including for research;
- promote an end to stigma and discrimination, and promote an equitable, rights-based and people-centered TB response.
Country response
This is the story of Emily, a nurse managing the tuberculosis (TB) program of the City Health Office in Tuguegarao City, Philippines.
Significant progress has been made in addressing tuberculosis in Viet Nam. However, the fight is not yet over.
