Addis Ababa, 3 April, 2017 - Ethiopia joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Tuberculosis Day 2017, under the theme “Unite to End TB”. The official launch of the commemorative activities took place at Addis Ababa University, on 24 March, 2017.

As part of activities to mark this important day, speeches, songs, theatrical performances by drama groups with informative and educative messages on TB, and distribution of IEC materials among others, were carried out. In attendance was Ethiopian Goodwill Ambassador against Tuberculosis, Ethiopian long-distance runner, Dr Derartu Tulu, representatives from government ministries, development partners, civil society Organizations, community based organizations, schools and the media.

Ahead of World TB Day, the Federal Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with the Addis Ababa Regional Health Bureau, Addis Ababa University, and St Peter’s Specialists Hospital convened the 12th National TB Research Annual Conference (TRAC), from 21-23 March 2017. This conference brought together researchers, service providers, public health experts and policy-makers and other stakeholders to discuss the current TB situation in Ethiopia.

This three-day conference was aimed at strengthening the national response to tuberculosis by finding innovative, effective and modern ways to tackle the disease in Ethiopia.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Dr Kebede Worku, State Minister of Health, said encouraging results were being registered through the efforts made in solving the key challenges in the areas of preventing and controlling TB by supporting it with research and studies and added that efforts should also be exerted to involve the public in participating in the efforts to end TB. Dr. Kebede further stated that Ethiopia has shown greater commitment towards ending tuberculosis and added that his government's success is largely due to building and expanding TB diagnosis and treatment centers and supplying the required input. "TB diagnosis and treatment is now offered in about 3,000 public and 400 private health institutions," he said.

Meanwhile, with his keynote address, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, Dr Akpaka A. Kalu, commended the tremendous progress made by the Ethiopian government in the control of Tuberculosis, underlining the fact that between year 2000 and 2015, the country has reduced TB incidence by 50%; and that it has also reduced tuberculosis-associated deaths by 69%.

However, Dr Kalu underlined that there is a lot to do to ending tuberculosis as a public health threat by the year 2030, in Ethiopia. He further stressed that “Collective action towards universal coverage with TB detection and treatment serivces; concurrent investment in TB research and expansion of access to existing TB detection and treatment technologies and services – that is the strategic direction to a TB -free future; that is what it will take to end TB in Ethiopia".

In 2015, 10.4 million people fell ill with TB and 1.8 million died from the disease (including 0.4 million among people with HIV). The TB challenge in most African countries is still burdensome despite progress made globally in the fight against the disease. As a continent, Africa harbours 16 of the 30 high burden countries for TB (2016 – 2020) as defined by the Word Health Organization (WHO). This presents both a health and economic challenge for the continent.

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For more information please contact:

Dr Kassa Hailu, WHO Ethiopia, TUB Program Coordinator, ketemak [at] who.int
Ms Selam Fesseha, WHO Ethiopia, Communications Officer, fessehas [at] who.int
Below :

01. WHO Representative to Ethiopia, Dr Akpaka A. Kalu delivering a key note address at the 12th National TB Research Annual Conference (TRAC)

02. H.E Dr Kebede Worku, State Minister of Health delivering his welcoming remarks at the 12th National TB Research Annual Conference

03. Performance by drama groups with informative and educative messages