World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is observed every year on 24 March to raise awareness about the global burden of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease. The day is marked by the World Health Organization (WHO) and commemorates the discovery of the TB-causing bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Dr. Robert Koch in 1882.
Key Facts about Tuberculosis
- TB mainly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect other parts of the body.
- It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
- TB is curable and preventable, yet millions are affected globally every year.
Global & India Initiatives
- WHO’s End TB Strategy aims to eliminate TB by 2030.
- India has set an ambitious target to eliminate TB by 2025 under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).
- Campaigns focus on free diagnosis, treatment, and awareness.
