Tuberculosis still haunts India, time to act on World TB Day

As World Tuberculosis Day dawns on March 24, 2025, India grapples with a grim reality—one person infected every second and 1,000 deaths daily—demanding urgent action to meet the 2025 elimination goal amid rising drug-resistant cases.

March 24, marks World Tuberculosis Day, a global call to combat a disease that continues to ravage India more than any other nation. The World Health Organization’s stark figures—one infection per second, 1,000 deaths daily—paint a crisis fueled by poverty, inadequate treatment, and a surge in drug-resistant strains. With the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) aiming to end TB by 2025, the clock is ticking. Yet, as M Ram Pradeep, a JVV member from Thiruvur, warns, awareness and adherence to treatment are our best weapons. Here is how we can protect ourselves—and why we must.

The persistent plague: TB’s toll on India

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains a merciless killer, primarily targeting the lungs but capable of striking anywhere in the body. Once a “terrible infectious disease,” as Pradeep notes, it spreads through airborne droplets from coughs, sneezes, or spit. In India, where poverty and limited healthcare access persist, it claims lives at an alarming rate. The WHO’s data underscores the urgency: “one person is infected with TB every second in the country and 1,000 people die from tuberculosis every day.” Since 1962, the government has fought back with special measures, but the battle is far from won.

Know the signs, seek the cure

Recognizing TB early is critical. Symptoms—cough, sputum, hemoptysis, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, or weight loss persisting over two weeks—signal the need for action. “Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment are completely free and are coordinated by the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP),” Pradeep emphasizes. Available at every government hospital, this lifeline offers hope. Yet, the rise of drug-resistant TB complicates the fight. Pradeep urges, “Sensitivity tests of sputum samples should be done by tests like genotyping, line probe assays, culture,” to distinguish resistant strains and tailor treatment—vital steps the public must demand.

Protection starts with you

TB is curable and preventable, but it demands discipline. Pradeep outlines clear steps: “Medicines should be taken for at least 6 to 9 months. Tests should be done once a month. Medical advice must be taken while taking medicines.” If side effects arise, “the health staff should be informed immediately.” Beyond medication, lifestyle matters—eat a balanced diet, avoid tobacco, and live in well-ventilated, sunlit spaces. Early diagnosis and strict adherence can halt long-term damage like fibrosis or COPD, keeping the 2025 goal within reach.

A call to end TB by 2025

World TB Day, born from Dr. Robert Koch’s 1882 discovery of the TB germ, is more than a milestone—it is a mandate. India’s NTEP has the tools, offering free care and aiming to eliminate TB by year’s end. But as drug-resistant cases surge, awareness lags. Pradeep’s plea—“We should all be at the forefront to achieve the goal of ending TB by 2025”—is a rallying cry. The government must amplify testing and education; citizens must embrace prevention and compliance. TB’s shadow lingers because we let it. This March 24, let’s resolve to banish it for good.