March 24 Is Celebrated As World Tuberculosis Day

World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is celebrated every year on March 24 to raise awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of Tuberculosis. It is being designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of Tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease. In 2012, 8.6 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.3 million died from the disease, mostly in low and middle-income countries.
For 2020, the Theme of World TB Day is “Its Time“… The theme emphasizes on the urgency to act on the commitments of global leaders to increase access to prevention and treatment; build accountability; ensure sufficient and sustainable financing including for research; promoting an end to stigma and discrimination; and promoting an equitable, rights-based and people-centered TB response… (WHO) .
The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease. 
Tuberculosis remains the world’s deadliest infectious killer. Each day, over 4000 people lose their lives to TB and close to 30,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease. Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 58 million lives since the year 2000.