Dili, March 25, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The World Health Organization Southeast Asia held an event to celebrate World TB Day with the theme, “Yes, we can stop TB and commit, invest and keep our promises.” The event was held on Monday.
According to WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Saima Wazed, the impact of TB spreads to health, burdening the finances of families affected by TB.
“We are in the Southeast Asia region, 30%-80% of families affected by TB bear very large costs. By 2023, this region represents more than 45% of the number of TB sufferers, about half of the number of deaths counted in one year.” She said.
She continued, the region has worked hard to stop TB post Covid-19. By 2023, more than 3.8 million people with new and related TB cases will receive notifications throughout the region.
“We achieved a treatment success rate of 89% among new or recurrent TB patients in 2022. The number of TB cases that disappeared decreased to 22% in 2023, compared to 44% in 2020, and the start of TB preventive treatment for 1.5 million people,” She said.
She added that challenges continue to be faced due to dwindling resources through key partners and donors. In some countries, new diagnostics and drugs are being rolled out, including new drugs for drug-resistant TB, and this is having an impact on resource depletion.
“The way forward is clear. We need to invest more in holistic approaches to TB, including social support for patients, we cannot stop TB with fragmented work. Therefore, we need to strengthen and leverage other partners and institutions such as the UN, WHO Collaborating Centres and other research institutions that are localized in Member States, as well as the private sector,” She added.
She stressed that South-South research collaboration is more difficult for research and innovation in preventing, detecting and treating TB. Our country has extensive expertise and experience in developing new technologies and innovations to a community-friendly approach. However, it is necessary to share insights and experiences to be replicated in other environments to increase access to the benefits of research and innovation.
“Our main strength in the national program is the community we serve. Community involvement is very important, from planning to monitoring TB services, addressing stigma, discrimination, and promoting equity in accessing TB services,” She said.
She added that World TB Day, which is celebrated every March 24, is to raise awareness of the major health, social and economic consequences of TB and to increase efforts to stop the global TB epidemic. The date is commemorated in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch discovered the bacteria that causes TB.
Further explained that WHO’s compromise is to support all member states in our collective fight against TB. As the theme of World TB Day 2025 reminds us, “Yes, we can stop TB and commit, invest and keep our promises”
Reported by : Nelfiano
Picture by : Media officer of WHO