Kathmandu, Bagmati Province - The National Tuberculosis Control Center (NTCC), Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), in collaboration with partners and civil society organizations commemorated World Tuberculosis (TB) Day with an interactive program in NTCC’s premises in Bhaktapur.
World Tuberculosis Day 2023 observed in the premises of National Tuberculosis Control Center, Bagmati Province, Nepal. Photo credit: WHO Nepal
Mr. Durlav Thapa, Member of Federal Parliament, was the Chief Guest.
Highlighting this year’s theme: “Yes! We can end TB”, speakers at the program called for increased investments and faster uptake of evidence-based WHO recommendations to address socio-economic determinants and enhance multisectoral collaboration to end TB.
The event was organized in collaboration with International Organization for Migration, Nepal; Save the Children; Damien Foundation; Research Institute of Tuberculosis/Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association; Nepal Anti-Tuberculosis Association; Birat Nepal Medical Trust; USAID; and WHO, Country Office for Nepal.
Civil society organizations and individuals providing exceptional services in TB management were awarded. Based on the recommendation from the evaluation committee in NTCC, three municipalities (Mechinagar Municipality, Jhapa; Tikapur Municipality, Kailali; and Waling Municipality, Syangja) were felicitated for their excellent performance in the implementation of the TB Free Nepal Initiative campaign.
Awardees at the commemoration of World Tuberculosis Day 2023 observed in Bagmati Province, Nepal. Photo credit: WHO Nepal
Dr. Dipendra Raman Singh, Director General, Department of Health Services, MoHP, thanked all the stakeholders for committing towards ending TB. He also discussed the MoHP's five-year strategic plan 2021/22-2025/26, guided by the TB prevalence survey and WHO's strategy to end TB.
Dr. Naveen Prakash Shah, Director, NTCC, shed a light on the problem of underreporting of TB cases. He said: “About 32,000 tuberculosis-affected people are not diagnosed and treated each year, which poses a challenge for the National Tuberculosis Program in Nepal. NTCC however remains committed to follow national policies to end TB in Nepal by 2035.”
Dr. Khin Pa Pa Naing, Team Lead for Communicable Diseases at WHO, Country Office for Nepal, spoke about Nepal’s progress towards ending TB, which has been a flagship priority for the WHO South-East Asia Region since 2014. She also called for more accelerated action from all key stakeholders to attain the milestones of TB Free Nepal.
A recovered drug-resistant TB patient shared his experiences of undergoing treatment, emphasizing the importance of counseling and building trust among healthcare workers and patients.
All representatives, including political leaders, expressed their individual commitment towards ending TB in Nepal.
World TB Day is celebrated on 24 March each year and provides an opportunity to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of TB and to call for stronger efforts to end the TB epidemic.