Agency
On Tuesday, Uganda joins the rest of the world in marking World Tuberculosis (TB) and Leprosy Day.
The national event was hosted at Nakasongola Roman Catholic Primary School in Nakasongola town.
The theme for this year’s World TB Day is “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” a rallying cry urging for urgency, accountability, and hope in the fight against TB.
Uganda is among the 30 countries with the highest TB burden globally.
In 2021, the country reported an estimated 98,000 new TB cases, translating to an incidence rate of 227 cases per 100,000 population.
With continued support from the Global Fund and other partners, Uganda has made significant strides in TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, aiming to reduce the disease burden.
However, global health funding cuts are now threatening to reverse these gains.
On the occasion of World TB Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for urgent investments to protect and maintain TB care and support services for those in need, amidst significant budget cuts to global health agencies.