-As President Boakai Declares Today To Be Observed as a Working Holiday
Monrovia: The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has by proclamation declared Monday, March 24, 2025 as “World TB Day”, to be observed as a Working Holiday throughout the Republic.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, being mindful of the harmful effect Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose to the global community, particularly in Africa and other developing countries, the nations of the World will celebrate this day to highlight the threat TB poses to the human race as well as to enlighten the World on the global initiatives and innovative actions undertaken to stop the spread of TB, thereby reducing death rates in Liberia, Africa and the entire world.
The Government of Liberia, being mindful of its duty to protect the health and welfare of its citizens and foreign residents, will join global health partners and the rest of the global community in the observance of World TB Day under the global Theme: “YES! WE CAN END TB: COMMIT, INVEST, DELIVER”; This year’s theme stresses the importance of lasting commitment, financial investment, and the practical delivery of interventions essential to TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.
WHO 2024 report, TB ranks alongside HIV as the leading cause of death with an estimated 10.8 people fell in with TB in 2023, up from 10.7 million in 2022 and 10.4 million in 2021. There were an estimated 1.25 million death from TB, down from 1.32 million in 2022 and 1.42 million in 2021. Deaths for TB among people with HIV have been falling steadily for many years. In 2023, the estimated number was 161,000. Men (age > 15 years) accounted for 33% and children less than 15 years accounted for 12%. Among all the affected, 6.8% were people living with HIV.
WHO classified Liberia as one of the 30 high burden TB Countries in the World, with an estimated incidence rate of 308 per 100,000 Population (WHO 2021); IN 2023, the program notified 7,447 TB cases of all forms and tested 100% for HIV. Out of 100% tested for HIV, 10% were TB/HIV Co-infected. Ninty percent (90%) of patients with TB/HIV Co-infected were initiated on ART; While the total of 156 MDR-TB cases were notified during the period under review, of the 156 MDR-TB cases notified 120(81%) were initiated on the treatment.
The proclamation calls on the Ministry of Health and other Government agencies, as well as international and local organizations concerned to initiate and execute appropriate programs befitting the occasion.
