EU Pledges Continued Support for Afghanistan’s Fight Against Tuberculosis
Tawazun – Marking World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, the European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting efforts to combat the disease in Afghanistan.
In a statement, the EU pledged to expand its assistance in tackling TB, a treatable disease, while also emphasizing the importance of public awareness and improved access to healthcare services.
On the same occasion, Afghanistan’s Taliban-led Ministry of Public Health revealed that over 50,000 people in the country contract TB annually, with nearly 10,000 fatalities recorded each year.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns over the rising incidence of TB in Afghanistan, noting a 3.3% increase in cases compared to the previous year. The organization has urged for stronger and more effective measures to curb the spread of the disease.
Officials from Afghanistan’s National TB Program have warned that reduced international aid has hindered the implementation of long-term treatment and prevention strategies, calling for increased global support.
The Taliban government has also appealed to international organizations to enhance cooperation and assistance in Afghanistan’s fight against TB.
According to WHO, since the year 2000, approximately 10.8 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with TB, with 1.25 million succumbing to the disease.
