World Tuberculosis Day 2022

Invest to End TB. Save Lives

lives saved since 2000 by global efforts to end TB

people fell ill with TB in 2020

people died of TB in 2020

Each year, we commemorate World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of 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.

TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers. Each day, over 4100 people lose their lives to TB and close to 28,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease. Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 66 million lives since the year 2000. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed years of progress made in the fight to end TB. For the first time in over a decade, TB deaths increased in 2020.

The theme of World TB Day 2022 - ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives.’ –conveys the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and achieve the commitments to end TB made by global leaders. This is especially critical in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic that has put End TB progress at risk, and to ensure equitable access to prevention and care in line with WHO’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.

More investment will save millions more lives, accelerating the end of the TB epidemic.

 

 

 

World TB Day - Key messages

A patient and loved one hold hands.

Urgent investment of resources, support, care and information are vital to win the fight against TB

This is especially critical in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic that has put End TB progress at risk, and to ensure equitable access to prevention and care in line with WHO’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage. More investments towards TB diagnosis, prevention treatment, and care will save millions more lives.

 

 

 

 

Essential TB services should be sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that gains made in the fight against TB are not reversed

All measures should be taken to ensure continuity of services for people who need preventive and curative treatment for TB. Health authorities should maintain support to essential TB services, including during emergencies such as COVID-19. People-centred delivery of TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care services, including through digital technologies, should be ensured in tandem with the COVID-19 response.


 

 

Tackling health inequities to ensure health for all

The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to the deep disparities that persist between and within countries. People with TB are among the most marginalized and vulnerable, facing barriers in accessing care.  WHO is calling for global action to address health inequities for people with TB and other diseases.

 

WHO Bangladesh/ Irene Gavieiro Agud
© Credits

Ending TB requires concerted action by all sectors 

To provide the right services, support and enabling safe environment in the right place, at the right time. Everyone has a role to play in ending TB – individuals, communities, businesses, governments, societies.

 

 

Campaign materials

World TB Day 2022 Video Message

World TB Day 2022

Online Talk Show

The World Health Organization (WHO) is organizing a special virtual talk show to commemorate World TB Day on 24 March. This will put the spotlight on TB under the theme - ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives’ to convey the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and achieve the commitments to end TB made by global leaders. This is especially critical in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic that has put End TB progress at risk, and to ensure equitable access to prevention and care in line with WHO’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.

The event will take place in a talk-show format with speakers connected by video on  WHO’s interactive web-platform- End TB Forum. The main speakers will include Ministers, leaders and other high-level government representatives, Heads of Agencies,  TB survivors, civil society and partners. The Show will be broadcast live, with interactive Q&A from the audience online.

Background:

World TB Day is observed on March 24 each year to raise public awareness and understanding about one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers - TB and it’s devastating health, social and economic impact on people around the world. March 24 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.

Every day, over 4100 people die from TB and nearly 30 000 people fall ill with TB disease – despite it being preventable and treatable. TB is the leading cause of death of people with HIV and a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance. World TB Day is an opportunity to focus on the people affected by this disease and to call for accelerated action to end TB suffering and deaths, especially in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Please click the link below to join the event:

Thursday, 24 March 2022, 12:30H – 15:00H CET

https://who.zoom.us/j/91034239152

Password: 21TB$wH5

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