On March 24, 2025, Guyana joined the global community in observing World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, reflecting on the 143rd anniversary of Dr. Robert Koch’s groundbreaking discovery of the TB bacillus. Despite the significant strides in medical science since Dr. Koch’s discovery, TB remains a major global health threat, with an estimated 10.8 million people diagnosed with the disease last year alone.
In a statement delivered for World Tuberculosis Day, Dr. Karen Francis-Cummings, Shadow Minister of Health, emphasised the urgent need for action. She pointed out that TB, though preventable and curable, still claims lives worldwide, with 1.25 million fatalities in 2024 alone, including 161,000 deaths among individuals living with HIV. Dr. Cummings highlighted the stark reality that nearly 3,500 people die daily from TB, and 30,000 more are diagnosed, despite the availability of effective treatment.
This year’s theme – ‘Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver’ – is a rallying cry for all of us in Guyana to intensify efforts to combat drug-resistant TB and strengthen our healthcare systems, Dr. Cummings stated. “The Ministry of Health, civil society, and all stakeholders must intensify efforts to implement and monitor critical control measures.”
Dr. Cummings called for a multifaceted approach to tackling the disease, outlining several key measures to strengthen Guyana’s response to TB:
- Administrative Interventions:Early detection and treatment are crucial, and systems must be in place to ensure that all cases are identified promptly.
- Environmental Controls:Efforts to limit the spread of TB in communities, particularly in crowded or poorly ventilated areas, are essential.
- Healthcare Worker Protection:Access to protective equipment for healthcare workers is necessary to prevent transmission within medical settings.
The Shadow Minister stressed the importance of Guyana’s significant 2025 health budget allocation of $143.2 billion. She called for these funds to be used to expand universal access to TB care, enhance prevention programmes, and support research. Dr. Cummings also underscored the importance of addressing the social determinants of health, such as poverty, overcrowding, and malnutrition, which fuel the spread of TB.
“Ending TB requires more than just medical interventions. We must reduce poverty, improve living conditions, and tackle the factors that increase vulnerability, such as tobacco and alcohol use, diabetes, and HIV,” Dr. Cummings said.
She also highlighted the need for the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) to expand its Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) services across all regions, with particular emphasis on Regions 4 and 3, where the majority of cases are concentrated. Dr. Cummings pointed out that hinterland areas require greater coordination and involvement from stakeholders to improve TB control efforts.
Dr. Cummings also used the opportunity to educate the public on the symptoms of TB, which include a persistent cough lasting more than two weeks, chest pain, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue. She urged anyone experiencing these symptoms, or those who may have been exposed to TB, to seek care immediately at one of Guyana’s 18 Chest Clinics.
“The good news, Dr. Cummings stated, is that TB treatment has significantly improved. With fully oral medication, treatment now lasts only four to six months and is highly effective.
As Guyana and others around the world reflect on World Tuberculosis Day 2025, Dr. Cummings reminded the public that ending TB is a collective responsibility. “This is everybody’s business,” she said. “Together, we can make it happen!”
For more information or to seek medical care, individuals are urged to contact the National Tuberculosis Programme at 225-7290, 227-0592, or 231-8270
