World TB Day, falling on March 24th each year, is designed to build public awareness that tuberculosis today remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the deaths of nearly one-and-a-half million people each year, mostly in developing countries.
World TB Day 2020 will be a continuation of our joint efforts to keep TB high on the global and national agenda. After the historic UN High-Level Meeting (UN HLM) on TB in September 2018 in New York, the WTBD 2020 theme will ensure the world is reminded of the commitments made and the timely need for action in scale up, research, funding, human rights and accountability.
The World TB Day 2020 Theme is: IT’S TIME… TO END TB
This versatile theme has a very strong meaning, it is simple to translate into any language and it can easily be adapted to cover any aspect of our work that we would like to promote. Here are some examples:
It’s Time…
- …to keep the promises made at the UN HLM on TB
- …for a world without TB
- …to treat 40 million people affected by TB by 2022
- …to know your TB status
…and many more!
World TB Day toolkit in different languages full of more slogan suggestions, guidelines for interactive campaigns, merchandise and social media, eye-catching graphics and exciting ideas to help you engage with the public and focus everyone’s attention on tuberculosis can be found on the following links:
- https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/world-tb-day/world-tb-day-2020
- http://stoptb.org/events/world_tb_day/
We would like to recognize that the global coalition of TB advocates (GCTA) thought about the time and urgency aspect of TB with their campaign “it’s time for TB”
LET’S DO THIS!
Red Cross Red Crescent action
Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers are involved at all levels in the fight against TB. Living in the affected communities they are best placed to:
- identify vulnerable groups
- provide effective health education
- find those in need of treatment
Additionally, our volunteers provide social care after the first phase of treatment. Activities include:
- making sure that patients follow the treatment
- helping patients to get enough good quality food
- being there for patients when they have questions or need someone to talk to
These activities significantly increase the percentage of people who can be cured of TB.
National Red Cross Red Crescent Societies also communicate with national authorities, policy-makers and the public to ensure that the necessary resources are available to control TB.
It is became a good tradition that Red Cross Red Crescent Societies of our region organise cycle of advocacy and public campaigns, local actions with direct support to people with TB, and advocate interests of the most vulnerable for their better access to prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment.