World Tuberculosis Day is celebrated every year by the people all across the world at international level on 24th of March. It is celebrated to raise the common public awareness about the epidemic disease of tuberculosis as well as get their efforts in order to totally eradicate this disease. As around 1.7 million of the people are dying of this disease every year. 24th of March has been established to commemorate the tuberculosis day by all at one place in order to get some solution to eradicate it from the world.
Why is World TB Day Observed?
The celebration of World Tuberculosis Day is in remembrance of Dr. Robert Koch’s discovery of the TB bacillus which was announced on March 24 in 1882. Robert Koch announced his discovery of the TB bacillus to a small group of scientists on this day and marked a key point in the war against the disease. However, the first World TB Day was observed one century after this discovery on March 24, 1982. It has since become an annual occurrence and people all over the world gather and discuss about the various solutions to put an end to the life-threatening disease.
Important on World Tuberculosis Day
World Tuberculosis Day is a day dedicated to tuberculosis and encourages people to organize various conferences and discussions around steps to stop the spread of tuberculosis in the world and put eradicate it. Tuberculosis currently claims more than 1.7 million lives. Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of death in various parts of the world, especially in third world countries. The number of HIV patients who die because of TB is extremely high. About 2.2 million people develop TB in India, and an estimated 2, 20,000 people expire due to the disease. World TB Day helps to make efforts and put an end to this deadly disease that is various daunting parts of the world.
Significance of Unite to End TB
- The aim of the World Health Organisation has been to make people more aware of the signs and symptoms of TB and how to curb the disease.
- The theme for World TB Day 2017, Unite to End TB, aims at full filling the goal. The focus this year is to increase awareness both about the disease as well as the vaccines.
- One of the most crucial reasons behind the fear and dread of tuberculosis has been the lack of availability of these vaccines, especially in the underdeveloped and developing countries.
- The WHO is striving to bridge this gap between supply and demand and hopes that ‘Unite to End TB’ helps all the countries in the world to come together and fight the disease.
- World TB Day is also seen as an opportunity to build public awareness about TB and shatter the myths around the disease.
- While tuberculosis affects people of all ages, sex and races, the number of children affected by the disease is extremely high. On an average, 10-15 % of all TB patients is under the age of 14.
- While we are spreading the message of World TB Day and making people aware about the disease, it is extremely important to take preventive measures against TB. The easiest measure is to not ignore basic health issues like a persistent cough and adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Reference
http://www.indiacelebrating.com/events/world-tb-day/
http://www.wincalendar.com/World-Tuberculosis-Day