Kolkata, Mar 21 (UNI) World Tuberculosis Day is observed on March 24 every year to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of 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.
This year's campaign focuses on accelerating the commitment to end TB following the Declaration of the UN General Assembly high-level meeting on ending TB, not only at the political level with Heads of State and Government, but also with governors, mayors, parliamentarians, community leaders, people affected with TB, as well as doctors, nurses and other health workers, NGOs, civil society members and other partners.