KARACHI: Like other parts of the world, the World TB (Tuberculosis) Day was also observed in Pakistan on Saturday, 24 March 2018 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic.
Despite significant progress over the last decades, TB continues to be the top infectious killer worldwide, claiming over 4,500 lives a day. The emergence of multi drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) poses a major health security threat and could risk gains made in the fight against TB.
This year’s theme of the day is: “Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world” that focuses on building commitment to end TB, not only at the political level with Heads of State and Ministers of Health, but at all levels from Mayors, Governors, parliamentarians and community leaders, to people affected with TB, civil society advocates, health workers, doctors or nurses, NGOs and other partners. All can be leaders of efforts to end TB in their own work or terrain.