World TB Day 2025: "Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver"

Today, the global community observes World Tuberculosis (TB) Day under the theme "Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver," emphasizing a unified effort to eradicate this enduring infectious disease. ​

Global TB Landscape

In 2023, TB affected approximately 10.8 million people worldwide and claimed 1.25 million lives, reaffirming its status as one of the deadliest infectious diseases. Despite being preventable and curable, TB continues to pose significant health, social, and economic challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

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The 2025 Theme: A Call to Action

The 2025 theme underscores three critical pillars:​

• Commit: World leaders at the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB pledged to accelerate efforts to end the disease. Translating these commitments into action requires robust national strategies, policies, and full funding. ​

• Invest: Adequate financing is essential to combat TB effectively. Increased investments in research, diagnostics, treatments, and preventive measures are crucial to meet global targets by 2030. ​

• Deliver: Ensuring that commitments and investments result in tangible benefits involves scaling up evidence-based interventions, early and accurate diagnosis, preventive treatment, and high-quality care, especially for drug-resistant TB cases. 

Challenges Ahead

Despite progress, significant challenges remain. Funding cuts from major donors, including the USA, UK, and Germany, threaten TB programs in 27 countries, potentially hindering testing, diagnosis, and treatment efforts. Nine countries are already experiencing difficulties in securing medications, raising concerns about increased transmission rates. ​

Pakistan's Commitment

In Pakistan, TB continues to be a major public health concern. The Provincial TB Control Program Punjab aligns with the global theme by emphasizing

• Commitment: Strengthening healthcare systems to prioritize vulnerable populations.

• Investment: Enhancing research, diagnostics, and vaccine development.

• Delivery: Implementing culturally sensitive interventions in high-burden regions.

Global Solidarity

World TB Day 2025 serves as a pivotal moment to reimagine the TB response. Success depends on addressing social determinants of health—such as poverty, malnutrition, and education—while strengthening health systems. The fight against TB requires active participation from governments, healthcare professionals, and communities to ensure a TB-free future. ​

As we commemorate World TB Day 2025, the global community stands at a critical juncture. Through unwavering commitment, strategic investment, and effective delivery of interventions, ending TB is an achievable goal. Collective action today paves the way for a healthier, TB-free tomorrow.