Falling on the 24th March each year, World Tuberculosis Day aims to raise public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis. It is a worldwide initiative to raise awareness and made efforts to eliminate this preventable disease. Each year, nearly 9 million people across the world become sick with tuberculosis. But about three million of these people are unable to afford the diagnosis and treatment. Thus 24th March this year is being marked globally with the theme of “Reach the 3 million”.

People with TB may not have access to any health care at all. Awareness of TB appears to be limited. Those with TB continue to suffer discrimination, stigma, rejection and social isolation. The very poor who cannot afford service fees or transport may be kept away from health care providers.

Each year, 4000 are diagnosed with TB in Mongolia, and 60 percent out of these have lung tuberculosis whereas 40 percent are not affected by lung complications. Of newly occurring cases, 70 percent belong to people aged 14-66 or are of working age.

The Tuberculosis Control and Prevention of National Cancer Center of Mongolia diagnosed 11 TB cases among 200 health care seekers last week alone and began treatment on 10 of these cases.