World TB Day: Unite to End TB and alleviate the suffering of millions

22 March 2017, Cairo – The World Health Organization (WHO) calls for united efforts to put an end to tuberculosis (TB) that is still affecting millions of people around the world. On the occasion of World TB Day, celebrated on 24 March, WHO renews the call to “Unite to End TB” through actions to address stigma, discrimination and marginalization and overcome barriers to access care to ensure that no one is “left behind”.  TB, along with HIV, is still ranked by WHO as a leading cause of death due to communicable diseases; in 2015, more than 10.4 million people contracted the disease and 1.4 million people died from TB. In 2015, in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, the estimated number of people with TB was 749 000. TB mortality has decreased significantly from 38 per 100 000 population in 2000 to 12 per 100 000 in 2015, with a total number of about 80 000 deaths. Diagnosis and treatment of resistant cases represent only 18% of the estimated cases.  The situation is a stark reminder that tuberculosis continues to retain its status as a grave public health threat globally and regionally. Nevertheless, the Region has made progress in its fight against TB; it met the target to halve the tuberculosis mortality rate by 2015, compared with 1990 estimates.  “The progress Read more...
Source: WHO EMRO News - Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news