The theme of World TB day 2022 is – ‘Invest to END TB. Save Lives.’

The purpose is to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic.

The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, opening the way towards diagnosing and curing the disease.

TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers. The World Health Organisation reports that each day, more than 4100 people lose their lives to TB and close to 28,000 people fall ill with this preventable disease.

Efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 66 million lives since the year 2000. But the WHO says the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed years of progress made in the fight to end TB. For the first time in more than a decade, global TB deaths increased in 2020.

For more information on tuberculosis go to:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis

Ryder-Cheshire Australia’s mission is – ‘for the relief of suffering.’

Ryder-Cheshire Australia supports two overseas Homes: Klibur Domin in Timor-Leste and Raphael in India. They play a major role in the eradication of TB. This work has continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each centre has TB programs which takes staff into remote areas to assist people suffering from TB and to also assist in detecting TB. Extensive education programs are delivered to villages in very remote and sometimes inaccessible areas.

Raphael has a TB hospital to assist those suffering from TB as does Klibur Domin.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all the staff at both centres as they fight to contain this dreadful disease.

If you would like to support Ryder-Cheshire Australia to help Raphael or Klibur Domin continue their fight against tuberculosis please go to our website www.ryder-cheshire.org and click the DONATE button. 100% of your donation will go to your centre of choice.