As Nigeria joins the rest of the globe to mark World Tuberculosis (TB) Day tomorrow to honour millions that lost their lives to the disease and renew advocacy around prevention, treatment and research, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has announced plans to hold “Yes! We Can End TB” events globally tomorrow to support everyone affected by ailment and encourage world leaders to play their part in ending the disease, described as 100 per cent preventable and treatable.
In 2021, TB claimed 1.6 million lives, with over 10 million infection, yet it remains neglected and underfunded in many countries. Amid acknowledgement that the scourge is a global epidemic, over 95 per cent of TB deaths occur in low-income countries.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that finances were less than 40 per cent of what was needed to prevent and treat the disease in 2022.
In the face of this reality, it behoves Heads of State to prioritise prevention and stave millions of avoidable deaths.
