World Tuberculosis Day 2021

Every year we mention the World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on March 24 to raise public awareness of TB's devastating health, social and economic consequences and to step up efforts to end the global tuberculosis epidemic. The date marks the day of 1882, when Dr. Robert Koch announced he had discovered a bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way to diagnose and cure that disease. TB remains one of the world's most deadly infectious killers. Nearly 4 000 people lose their lives with TB every day and almost 28 000 people become ill with this preventable and treatable disease. Since 2000, global efforts to combat tuberculosis have saved around 63 million people. The theme of TB of the world's 2021 - “The clock ticks” - highlights the lack of time for the world to act in line with the commitment of global leaders to end TB. This is particularly important in the context of THE COVID-19 pandemic, which threatens the progress of TB's end, and in order to ensure equal access to prevention and care, in line with the WHO's efforts to achieve universal health coverage.