World Tuberculosis Day on 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 that time, TB was the cause of death for 1 out of 7 people. Koch’s discovery opened the way toward diagnosing and curing tuberculosis.
Health and Safety Officer, Dr M Jaegle and Dr Escash, conducted an enlightening session for the learners on the importance of World TB Day. Dr Escash explained how tuberculosis impacts the lungs and body, how to identify its symptoms, and the necessary steps to take for treatment. Raising awareness is key to combating the disease which can be effectively treated.
TB continues to be the top infectious killer worldwide, claiming over 1,5 million per year. It is second only to HIV/AIDS as the greatest killer worldwide due to a single infectious agent. Over 95% of TB deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. TB is a leading killer of people living with HIV causing one-fifth of all deaths.
Source: TB Awareness Month 2025 | South African Government
