Afghanistan Times
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AT Kabul: The Ministry of Public Health in Afghanistan reports that approximately 75,000 people are affected by tuberculosis (TB) every year, with around 10,000 deaths attributed to the disease. Abdul Wali Haqqani, Deputy Minister for Health Services, made this statement during an event marking World Tuberculosis Day, emphasizing that last year, over 51,000 TB cases were reported nationwide, with treatments provided to those affected.
Afghan officials called on international organizations to continue their support in the fight against tuberculosis in Afghanistan.
Dr. Edwin Siniza Salowder, the WHO mission head in Afghanistan, highlighted that in 2023, more than 10,000 deaths occurred due to tuberculosis, and 75,000 individuals were diagnosed with the disease. He pointed out that this means one person dies every 52 minutes and one person is diagnosed with TB every 7 minutes.
According to WHO’s representative, in 2024, Afghanistan reported a total of 51,219 tuberculosis cases, a 3% increase compared to 49,533 cases in 2023. He warned that the number of people infected with tuberculosis in Afghanistan continues to rise.
This year’s World Tuberculosis Day is being observed under the theme “We can fight TB through commitment, investment, and service delivery.”
Common symptoms of tuberculosis include a persistent cough lasting more than two weeks, loss of appetite, night sweats, and coughing up blood. Health experts advise individuals experiencing these symptoms to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
