KATHMANDU, MARCH 24
World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is being observed in Nepal and across the globe today with awareness programmes and renewed commitments to eliminate the disease.
In Nepal, the Ministry of Health and Population, along with health institutions, is organizing various events to highlight prevention and treatment efforts.
Under its National Strategic Plan to End Tuberculosis, Nepal aims to significantly reduce TB incidence to 81 cases per 100,000 population by 2025/26, down from 238 in 2020/21. The plan also targets lowering the mortality rate to 23 per 100,000 and ultimately ending TB by 2035.
This year's theme, "Yes! We can end TB!", underscores global optimism and calls for accelerated action. The World Health Organization (WHO) says ending TB is achievable through stronger leadership, increased investment, and rapid adoption of new technologies and strategies.
Globally, TB has claimed 1.23 million lives in 2024, with 10.7 million new cases reported. In Nepal, around 67,000 TB cases were recorded the same year, according to WHO data.