WHO South-East Asia commits to stronger action in fight against TB

Member States of the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region on Saturday committed to stronger and more integrated action to close critical gaps in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), with a focus on early diagnosis, wider access to prevention and treatment, financial protection for families and preparedness for new TB vaccines. The commitment was made at the 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia. "Tuberculosis is curable and preventable, yet it continues to take hundreds of thousands of lives in our Region every year and pushes families into poverty," said Dr Nilesh Buddha, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia Region. "We have the tools to change this trajectory. What we need is to ensure that these tools reach everyone who needs them – earlier, equitably and as part of quality primary health care," he added.