With the aim to raise public awareness of tuberculosis and the efforts made to prevent and treat this disease, International Tuberculosis Day is marked on March 24 (Wednesday) across the globe including Pakistan.
This event is held on March 24 each year and is promoted by globally recognized organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO).
Organizations involved in the Stop TB Partnership arrange various World Tuberculosis Day events and activities. Each year, WHO which is a United Nations (UN) health authority works with this network to promote World Tuberculosis Day.
Campaign activities include community discussion groups that are organized to look at ways to prevent TB along with award ceremonies or other events to honor the life and work of those who dedicate their lives to prevent and fight against TB.
Various platforms are dedicated to photo exhibitions that showcase images to raise worldwide awareness of TB and charity events are also arranged to raise funds for disease control (of TB) in countries that need assistance.
People with a big following on digital platforms, community groups, and government agencies usually take the time to work with broadcast, print, and online media to promote stories on the awareness of tuberculosis and the works of those who help fight against the spread of the disease.
Before spreading awareness, one should know what Tuberculosis or TB is. It is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the disease.
WHO estimates that the largest number of new TB cases in 2005 occurred in south-east Asia, which accounted for 34 percent of incident cases globally. However, the estimated incidence rate in sub-Saharan Africa is nearly twice that of south-east Asia.
