Kenya is marking World Tuberculosis (TB) Day with the assurance that the infectious disease, which primarily affects the lungs and spreads through the air, is preventable and curable.
As celebrations begin, the Ministry of Health is calling for increased awareness while committing to strengthening prevention efforts and ensuring access to treatment.
Despite notable progress in recent years, Kenya remains among the 30 high-burden countries for TB, highlighting the need for continued efforts.
The day is also being commemorated amid global concerns that drastic and abrupt cuts in global health funding could reverse recent gains made in TB control
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for an urgent investment of resources to protect and maintain tuberculosis (TB) care and support services for people in need across regions and countries.
TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, responsible for over 1 million people annually, bringing devastating impacts on families and communities.
Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 79 million lives since 2000. However, the drastic and abrupt cuts in global health funding happening now are threatening to reverse these gains.
Rising drug resistance, especially across Europe and the ongoing conflicts across the Middle-East, Africa and Eastern Europe, are further exacerbating the situation for the most vulnerable.
Under the theme Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver, World Tuberculosis Day 2025 campaign highlights a rallying cry for urgency, and accountability and hope. “The huge gains the world has made against TB over the past 20 years are now at risk as cuts to funding start to disrupt access to services for prevention, screening, and treatment for people with TB,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
Margaret Kalekye
