World Tuberculosis Day 2024

World Tuberculosis Day 2024

24 March

WHO/Global Tuberculosis Programme
© Credits

75 million 
lives saved since 2000 by global efforts to end TB

 

10.6 million
people fell ill with TB in 2022

 

1.3 million
people died of TB in 2022

 

The theme of World TB Day 2024 - ‘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 and faster uptake of new WHO recommendations. Following the commitments made by Heads of State at the UN High Level meeting in 2023 to accelerate progress to end TB, this year's focus shifts to turning these commitments into tangible actions.

To help countries scale-up access to TB preventive treatment, WHO  will release an investment case on scaling up the roll out of TB preventive treatment.

 

 

 

Key messages

A patient and loved one hold hands.
ВОЗ / Глобальная программа по борьбе с туберкулезом
Д-р Тедрос Адханом Гебрейесус на заседании высокого уровня по вопросам борьбы с туберкулезом в рамках Генеральной Ассамблеи ООН.
© Credits

High-level leadership and action to end TB

Following the commitments made by Heads of State at the 2023 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting to accelerate progress to end TB, this year's focus shifts to turning these commitments into tangible actions. 

Man visiting a doctor
WHO
© Credits

Sustainable investment of resources, support, care and information are vital to ensure universal access to TB care and for research 

This is especially critical to close gaps in care and to ensure equitable access to prevention and care in line with WHO’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage. More investments towards supporting the rollout of WHO-recommended TB preventive treatment options, shorter TB treatment regimens, rapid molecular diagnostics and tests for TB infection, other innovations and digital tools will lead to improvements in health outcomes and save millions of lives. Importantly, investments in research and innovation are vital to fast-track efforts to reach the end TB targets. 

tuberculosis
WHO/Tytaart
Patient visitation in Pu Tong Village
© Credits

Strengthening multisectoral engagement and accountability

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. Poverty, inequity, under nutrition, comorbidities, discrimination, and stigma are major drivers of the TB epidemic. 

WHO Bangladesh/ Irene Gavieiro Agud
© Credits

Tackling health inequities to ensure health for all

People with TB are among the most marginalized and vulnerable, and face barriers in accessing care.  WHO is calling for global action to address health inequities for people with TB and other diseases.

 

About World TB Day - Background

  • TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers.
  • Each day, close to 3560 people lose their lives to TB and close to 30,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease.
  • Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 75 million lives since the year 2000. There was a significant worldwide recovery in the scale-up of TB diagnosis and treatment services in 2022. It shows an encouraging trend starting to reverse the detrimental effects of COVID-19 disruptions on TB services.
  • In its latest Global Tuberculosis Report, WHO highlighted that more than 7.5 million people with TB received access to diagnosis and treatment in 2022, the most since we began monitoring almost 30 years ago. In addition, the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting agreed on new targets to end TB, and we launched the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council, to facilitate the development, licensing, and equitable use of new TB vaccines.
  • However, progress was insufficient to meet global TB targets set in 2018 with disruptions caused by the pandemic and ongoing conflicts being major contributing factors.