World Tuberculosis Day - Education For Prevention

Between 2000-2014, 43 million cases of Tuberculosis (TB) had been diagnosed in an early stage resulting in the ability to treat the disease and having a healthy recovery. March 24th marks World Tuberculosis Day allowing to further educate and bring awareness to the disease and those who suffer from it.

Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease which most commonly affects the lungs. TB is spread by prolonged exposure to someone who already carries the disease. For most healthy-bodied individuals that catch the disease the immune system is able to kill off the bacteria before symptoms even begin to show, says the NHS.

Unfortunately, drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is becoming a common and relevant epidemic. The bacteria that causes TB is able to grow a resistance to the medication used to treat the disease. In 2015 more than 480,000 people across the globe were reported to have MDR-TB.

Every year tuberculosis takes the lives of 1.5 million people. The spread of the disease could easily be prevented through vaccinations of young children, testing, early and efficient treatments and ultimately curing the disease through research.

Download infographic on Health & Communicable Diseases in Southeast Asia

Many countries have created goals on preventing and abolishing the disease. The Health Minister of Ethiopia, Dr Kesetebirah Admasu, has a focused effort on involving politician to advocate for interaction within the community to further ensure prevention of TB, according to the World Health Organization. Ethiopia’s past successes with combatting the disease have all stemmed from political intervention.

The Aid and International Development Forum will be holding a panel on focusing on Innovations and Best Practice to Tackle Communicable Diseases at the upcoming Aid & Development Asia Summit 2017. Dr. Aye Yu Soe, Senior Public Health Officer from United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and Daniel Crapper, Country Director, PSI Myanmar are scheduled to speak on the panel. This year’s summit will be taking place is Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on June 14th and 15th. To learn more about Aid & Development Asia Summit or to register your participation visit: http://asia.aidforum.org/