This World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, observed on March 24, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) teams worldwide join government and civil society partners in calling for more substantial political commitments, increased funding, and expanded access to TB services. AHF teams’ World TB Day events will call for action and help raise awareness about TB – the world’s deadliest infectious disease, the leading cause of death for people living with HIV, and a major cause of death related to antimicrobial resistance.

"Ending TB is not a question of whether or not it is possible—it is a matter of commitment. We have the tools, the knowledge, and the ability to stop this disease, but progress will only happen if governments prioritize TB as a global health emergency,” said AHF Chief of Global Advocacy and Policy Terri Ford. “We must invest in stronger healthcare systems, ensure equitable access to treatment, and break the barriers of stigma and neglect that have allowed TB to persist for far too long. This World TB Day, we reaffirm that the fight against TB is not over, and we call on world leaders to act with urgency and accountability. Lives depend on it."

TB claimed 1.25 million lives in 2023, according to the World Health Organization. While global TB incidence has declined, progress is too slow to meet international targets. An estimated nearly 11 million people fell ill with TB in 2023, with more than 80% of cases and deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. At least $22 billion is needed annually for TB prevention and treatment, yet global funding remains significantly short of this goal. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis remains a public health crisis, with only about two in five people with drug-resistant TB receiving treatment in 2023.

AHF focuses on HIV/TB co-infection care in its clinics and has long prioritized TB prevention, screening, and treatment as part of its global healthcare programs. AHF also advocates for policy changes to make TB drugs and diagnostics more accessible and affordable and engages communities and governments to commit to more vigorous TB control efforts.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a global non-profit organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to over 2.3 million people in 48 countries worldwide in Africa, the Americas, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Europe. We are currently the largest non-profit provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the world. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare.

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We must invest in stronger healthcare systems, ensure equitable access to treatment, and break the barriers of stigma and neglect that have allowed TB to persist for far too long.