Minister's Message: World Tuberculosis Day

On World Tuberculosis Day, March 24, we commemorate the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of the cause of tuberculosis - a remarkable achievement that paved the way toward diagnosing and curing this infectious disease.

Today, tuberculosis still claims approximately 1.7 million lives each year, posing a significant health risk to poor and malnourished people living in developing countries.

This year's theme for World Tuberculosis Day is "On the Move Against Tuberculosis: Innovate to Accelerate Action."

Canada is a major contributor in the global fight against tuberculosis. For example, Canada has contributed to the successful treatment of more than four million people who suffer from tuberculosis, and has saved more than half a million lives.

Canada also continues to be a significant donor to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which has allowed more than six million people with tuberculosis to receive treatment.

In Afghanistan, CIDA is providing more than $6 million to the World Health Organization to implement the National Tuberculosis Control Programme and respond to the high rate of the disease in that country.

In keeping with this year's theme, our government has committed $100 million toward the TB REACH program. This program, part of the Stop TB Partnership, is designed to encourage innovative and efficient interventions, and to improve the detection and treatment of tuberculosis cases, particularly among people with limited access to such health care services.

Canada remains firmly committed to tuberculosis control and prevention, and will continue working with partners to improve access to quality diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

On World Tuberculosis Day, Canadians can be proud of their government's commitment to fighting tuberculosis worldwide.

For more information on CIDA's tuberculosis projects, go to the Project Browser.