World TB Day raises awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease. One-third of the world's population is currently infected with TB. The Stop TB Partnership, a network of organizations and countries fighting TB, organizes the Day to highlight the scope of the disease and how to prevent and cure it.
The annual event on 24 March marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch detected the cause of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus. This was a first step towards diagnosing and curing tuberculosis. WHO is working to cut TB prevalence rates and deaths by half by 2015.
The African Region has recorded encouraging progress in the fight against TB. There is need to scale up universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support, particularly for patients co-infected with TB and HIV and patients exposed to multidrug resistant TB through the strengthening of national capacities for disease control, including skills of health personnel.
This video highlights progress, challenges and perspectives in TB Control in the African Region.
Message of the Regional Director on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day 2012
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