Introduction
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Today, March 24, 2025, we observe World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of TB and to bolster efforts toward ending this epidemic.
This date commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes TB, paving the way for diagnosing and curing the disease. Despite being preventable and curable, TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.
Understanding Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease primarily affecting the lungs, though it can impact other parts of the body. It spreads through the air when individuals with active TB cough, sneeze, or speak, releasing bacteria. While many people infected with TB bacteria do not develop the disease immediately, latent TB can become active later if the immune system weakens.
Key Facts About TB:
TB is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
It is curable with proper medical treatment, typically involving a 6-month antibiotic regimen.
TB remains a significant challenge due to drug resistance, delayed diagnosis, and lack of awareness.
Global Impact of TB
Despite medical advances, TB continues to pose a serious public health threat. In 2023, TB claimed approximately 1.25 million lives, including 161,000 people living with HIV. Around 10.8 million people developed TB, with 6 million men, 3.6 million women, and 1.3 million children affected.
One of the biggest challenges is drug-resistant TB, where only 40% of patients with resistant TB strains had access to proper treatment. This highlights the urgent need for better healthcare access, funding, and global cooperation to combat TB.
World TB Day 2025 Theme: “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver”
This year’s World TB Day theme serves as a call to action for governments, health organizations, and communities worldwide.
Key Focus Areas:
Commitment: Strengthening political and healthcare commitments to implement effective TB control strategies.
Investment: Increasing funding for TB programs, new treatments, and research.
Delivery: Ensuring accessible and timely TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for all.
The theme reflects a collective determination to overcome TB and achieve global health targets by 2030.
TB in Kenya: A Closer Look
Kenya continues to battle a high TB burden, with an incidence rate of 223 cases per 100,000 people in 2023. Among men, TB is the leading cause of death, with 99.8 deaths per 100,000 population.
Kenya’s National Strategic Plan for TB (2023/24 – 2027/28)
To address TB, Kenya has launched a comprehensive strategy to:
Increase TB Preventive Treatment from 32% in 2021 to 80% by 2028, reaching 681,000 high-risk individuals.
Enhance Drug-Resistant TB Management, boosting treatment coverage from 63% to 80% and detection rates from 69% to 80%.
Improve TB-HIV Co-infection Care by integrating services at local levels.
A major focus is active TB screening among contacts of TB patients, children, healthcare workers, and people living with HIV.
Challenges in TB Control
Despite progress, several barriers hinder TB control:
- Undiagnosed Cases – An estimated 31% of TB cases in Kenya remain undetected, allowing continued transmission.
- Drug-Resistant TB – Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is a growing concern, requiring longer and more expensive treatment regimens.
- Funding Gaps – Many TB programs rely on declining international funding, threatening progress.
Global Efforts and Partnerships
Eliminating TB requires a collaborative approach involving governments, NGOs, researchers, and communities. Some key global strategies include:
Investing in Research – Developing new vaccines, rapid diagnostic tools, and better treatments for TB.
Strengthening Healthcare Systems – Expanding universal access to TB care and preventive services.
Community Engagement – Raising awareness and reducing TB stigma through education and grassroots campaigns.
Conclusion
World TB Day 2025 reminds us of the urgent need to end tuberculosis. The theme “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver” calls for global solidarity to eliminate TB as a public health threat.
With political commitment, increased investment, and efficient delivery of healthcare services, we can move closer to a TB-free world.
Let’s work together to make TB history!
