World Tuberculosis Day being observed today

KATHMANDU: The World Tuberculosis Day is being marked around the theme - ‘It’s time’, across the globe, including in Nepal, amidst various programmes today.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the theme this year puts the accent on the urgency to act on the commitments made by global leaders to Scale up access to prevention & treatment; Promote equitable, rights-based & people-centered TB response; Ensure sufficient & sustainable financing including for research; Promote an end to stigma & discrimination; and Build accountability.

In Nepal 15 out of every 100 people are suffering with passive tuberculosis.

Bhim Singh Tinkari, director of the National Tuberculosis Centre, said, “Most of us are in the risk group of tuberculosis. There is no situation to say that there is no TB.”

According to doctors, the chances of developing manifest tuberculosis are minimal, if passive TB is treated on time.