On World TB Day, March 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for urgent and decisive action to end tuberculosis (TB) by 2030. The appeal is particularly critical for the WHO Western Pacific region, which accounts for nearly one in five global TB cases.
In its press release, the Manila-based WHO office highlighted the profound impact of TB, with an estimated 1.9 million new cases and 95,000 deaths in 2023 alone. The disease continues to severely affect families and communities across the region.
Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, emphasized the importance of timely intervention, stating, "Every missed TB case is a lost opportunity to save a life." He urged governments to turn commitments into action to ensure that everyone at risk receives high-quality diagnosis and care.
TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria, primarily affecting the lungs, and spreads through the air when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or spit. While it is preventable and curable with antibiotics, TB remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide.
