The world will commemorate World TB Day on Thursday, March 24.
The day is set to educate the public about the impact of TB around the world.
On Wednesday, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said that TB kills more than 1.5 million people each year.
He said in his address that ending the debilitating TB remains a priority for the WHO and that the organisation has made encouraging progress.
"Tuberculosis kills more than 1.5 million people each year. Ending this debilitating disease remains a priority for WHO, and in recent years, we have made encouraging progress ...more than 66 million people received access to TB services since the year 2,000. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has led to disruptions that reversed years of progress,” Tedros said.
Tedros said for the first time in over a decade, WHO has reported an increase in tuberculosis deaths.
The DG added that the trend is very dangerous that the world must arrest.
“We call on all countries to invest in expanding access to effective tools against tuberculosis, and in new tools to end TB.”
He also addressed the issue of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and the Tigray region in Ethiopia.
"The region has been under siege for almost 500 days, with dire shortages of fuel and food. We continue to call on Ethiopia and Eritrea to end the blockade."
WHO is waiting for permission to send an additional 95 metric tonnes of medical supplies to Tigray.
