World Tuberculosis Day and the Global Fight Against TB
World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is commemorated on the 24th of March annually to create awareness about the disease and discuss effective strategies for combating it. This day also celebrates the significant discovery made by Dr. Robert Koch back in 1882 – Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for causing TB. India has an ambitious goal to become TB-free by 2025, in advance of the global target set for 2030. The theme for 2023 is “Yes! We can end TB!
Significance of World TB Day
World TB Day serves as a critical platform to educate people globally about the implications of TB and its toll on human health. Despite medical advancements, TB remains one of the world’s deadliest disease, claiming over 4100 lives daily. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), deaths from TB escalated in 2020 for the first time in more than a decade. Since 2000, global efforts to eradicate TB have saved approximately 66,000,000 lives, demonstrating the importance of such initiatives.
An Overview of Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, an infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, can affect virtually all body organs, predominantly the lungs. It is an airborne infection transmitted through close contact with an infected individual, especially in overcrowded areas with poor ventilation. Common symptoms include coughing, chest pains, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Despite being a serious condition, TB is treatable and curable with a standard 6-month course of four antimicrobial drugs.
The Challenge of Drug-Resistant TB
The persistent use of anti-TB drugs over decades has led to the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a variant of TB that does not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin, the two most potent first-line anti-TB drugs. Although treatable with second-line drugs such as Bedaquiline, MDR-TB poses a significant challenge to TB control efforts. Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is even more serious, with bacteria resistant to the most effective second-line anti-TB drugs, often leaving patients with limited treatment options.
Global and National Initiatives to Combat TB
Combating TB necessitates concerted global and national efforts. WHO, in a joint initiative with the Global Fund and the Stop TB Partnership – “Find. Treat. All. #EndTB”, aims to find all people with TB, treat them, and ensure no TB cases are left untreated. In addition, WHO annually releases the Global Tuberculosis Report, providing an overview of the TB scenario worldwide.
In India, there are several initiatives in place, including the National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination (2017-2025), the Nikshay Ecosystem (a national TB information system), and the Nikshay Poshan Yojana (providing financial support to TB patients). The country has also introduced two vaccines – VPM 1002 and MIP – which are currently undergoing Phase-3 clinical trials. Launched in 2018, the Nikshay Poshan Yojna assists every TB patient with a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of Rs 500 per month for nutritional needs.
The fight against TB continues and initiatives such as World TB Day play a vital role in creating awareness and galvanizing actions at both global and national levels.
