Kathmandu, March 24
World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is being observed today in Nepal and across the globe with various awareness programs. Marked annually on March 24, the day highlights the urgent need to eliminate TB, one of the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide, which continues to have severe health, social, and economic impacts.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set this year’s theme as “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” emphasizing the need for sustained commitment and investment to combat TB, including drug-resistant strains. However, declining international funding threatens global efforts to eliminate TB by 2030.
TB, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affects the lungs and spreads through the air when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or spit. According to WHO, Nepal recorded an estimated 68,000 new TB cases in 2023, with an incidence rate of 229 per 100,000 people and a mortality rate of 54 per 100,000.
The National TB Control Center has launched public awareness programs and reported that 40,776 TB patients received treatment last year. Despite free treatment at 6,241 health institutions, a 2024 survey found that 51% of TB-affected families in Nepal face significant financial burdens. Authorities stress the need for cross-sector collaboration to achieve a TB-free Nepal by 2050.
