Today is World Tuberculosis Day. The day is observed on 24th March every year to raise awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of Tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global epidemic. The day is observed to commemorate the anniversary of Dr. Robert Koch’s discovery of the TB bacteria in 1882.
This year’s theme is “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, and Deliver”. The theme offers an opportunity to reflect on ongoing efforts and encourage stronger commitment at local, national and international levels to end TB, by combating the growing threat of drug-resistant TB.
The central government has taken several initiatives to eliminate TB in all states and union territories. These include intensified TB case-finding among vulnerable populations, provision of free drugs and diagnostics to TB patients, and providing one thousand rupees per month to the patient under Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana as nutritional support. Besides, a 100-day TB Elimination Campaign was also launched in identified priority districts across 33 states and UTs to find missing TB cases, reduce TB deaths, and prevent new cases. As per the World Health Organization’s Global TB Report, 2024, the incidence rate of TB in India has shown a 17.7 percent decline. The cases have declined from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 195 per lakh population in 2023.