The theme selected for World TB Day on March 24 this year is "People with TB" and the slogan is "DOTS cured me – it will cure you too!" The theme address people with TB by involving them as advocates for global TB control.

TB continues to kill approximately two million people each year worldwide. The Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) cures patients, saves lives, prevents the spread of drug resistance and reduces disease transmission. Yet, according to WHO estimates based on 2001 data, only 30% of active TB cases are being diagnosed and treated under DOTS programs. The global targets of 70% case detection and 85% cure rates for those detected must be reached by 2005 in order to halve TB prevalence and deaths by 2010.

World TB Day can play a crucial role in increasing the awareness on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of TB, and the importance of effective TB control. It can increase case detection rates through education, awareness building and social mobilization. The impact of activities can be strengthened by extending a focused Stop TB campaign beyond World TB Day to the rest of the year.

The objectives for the 2003 communications campaign are to:

This year’s campaign will focus on transforming cured TB patients into advocates for TB. Giving cured TB patients the authority and the opportunity to tell their stories with the support of TB partners, national programmes and non governmental organizations will encourage other potential TB sufferers to come forward to be diagnosed and cured.

At the global and national level, high profile people will be TB ambassadors. Their role will prompt action among people at risk of TB and help overcome the social stigma associated with TB.

World TB Day is of particular relevance in Bangladesh, which has the world’s fifth highest rate of TB. The DPTS programme covers over 95% of the country but urban areas and remote places remain under served.