World TB Day In Focus

A baby receives the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine for tuberculosis during a national immunization for children program. (VOA file copy)

By Bernadette Idalu 
The call for urgent world action and need to actualize on set Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on "Good Health and Well-being," took centre stage, today, Friday, March 24, 2023, during the globally recognized World Tuberculosis (TB) Day.

The event was marked to draw attention to the debilitating effects of the disease backed by the global push to eliminate it's existence by the year 2030 through diagnosis, treatment, and the development of a vaccine.

World TB Day observed globally every year on March 24 marks the anniversary of a German doctor, Robert Koch's discovery in 1882 of the bacterium that causes the disease. This year, the theme for the anniversary is, "Yes! We Can End TB." 

Tuberculosis, a bacterial infection of the lungs, is one of the world's deadliest diseases. According to the Voice of America (VOA) news service, after decades of progress, TB cases are on the rise once more. 

Even though the SDG's seventeen goals are envisioned as a guide to not leave anyone behind, by year 2030, however,  the World Health Organization (WHO), has set a global target of eradicating TB by 2030, primarily through diagnosis, treatment, and the development of a vaccine.

TB, according to world statistics is estimated to have killed 1.6 million people last year. Progress against tackling the disease was set back significantly by the Corona virus pandemic, according to Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership, an organization hosted and administered by the United Nations in Geneva.

In Nigeria, part of the sensitization process on the disease involved sending out of a health message by the global telecommunications network service provider (GLobacom) which recommended anyone suffering from a cough which is more than two weeks to call some provided toll free shortcodes for help for "Tuberculosis is treatable and curable.'

Tuberculosis is more prevalent and deadly in poorer countries. Scientists say a lack of commercial opportunity has hindered research and development into new TB medicines but the development of a new vaccine would save millions of lives.



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