World TB Day

2012-03-24T12:00:00

World TB Day is designed to build public awareness that tuberculosis (TB) remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the deaths of several million people each year, mostly in the third world.

24 March commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch astounded the scientific community by announcing that he had discovered the cause of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus. At the time of Koch's announcement in Berlin, TB was raging through Europe and the Americas, causing the death of one out of every seven people. Koch's discovery opened the way toward diagnosing and curing tuberculosis.

Speeches:

  • Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe: World TB Day Commemoration
  • MEC Magome Masike: World TB day event

More information:

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