Each year World TB Day is commemorated to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic.
The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease.
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.
75 million
lives saved since 2000 by global efforts to end TB – WHO
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.
