In 2018, heads of states and governments gathered at the United Nations to put an end to tuberculosis (TB). With each passing year, 1.5 million people die from TB as political commitments remain unmet. Countries around the world need our help.
Now that I'm cured, I'm going to climb the Himalayan mountains.
After Saurabh's numerous failed treatments for TB over the course of 6 months, his doctors finally realized he’s TB-resistant. It was a long journey for him. Over time, his TB caused permanent damage to his lungs, but he never let that stop him from fighting back. Now that he’s cured, he continues to challenge himself physically to help inspire others with TB.
Want to help more people around the world like Saurabh?
Find more detailed TB information about India in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
Find more detailed TB information about India in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
Find more detailed TB information about China in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
Find more detailed TB information about Indonesia in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
TB was especially hard on me because I'm such an extrovert so
the disease left me feeling very distant.
Jerik had a fever for 2 weeks and water in his lungs. Once the water was removed and tested, the doctors told Jerik he had TB. He took 13 pills a day throughout the course of his treatment, plus an injection every day for the first 6 months. He remembers that time as being the most painful time of his life. His muscles were sore and he could hardly stand, let alone walk. Today, he’s looking forward to the day when TB no longer exists.
Want to help more people around the world like Jerik?
Find more detailed TB information about the Philippines in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
Find more detailed TB information about the Philippines in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
We were happy that the medicines disintegrated in water and
were so easy to take.
– Bilal's family
Bilal is a young boy who lives with his 5 siblings and 2 parents in Karachi, Pakistan. Bilal is also the only sibling who understands what it means to hear the words, “You have tuberculosis.” In a desperate attempt to help Bilal and prevent TB from infecting their other 5 children, Bilal was treated with child-friendly TB medicines. Today Bilal is cured and back to playing with the people he loves most, his siblings.
Want to help more people around the world like Bilal?
Find more detailed TB information about Pakistan in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
Find more detailed TB information about Pakistan in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
Find more detailed TB information about Nigeria in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
Find more detailed TB information about Bangladesh in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
This new treatment is good. I can do what I want to do. And I
feel like the old Marius again.
Marius's symptoms started off with a long-term cough and ended with a TB diagnosis. Due to the inconvenience of picking up his meds at a clinic every single day, he inevitably stopped treatment. Soon he started feeling tired, losing weight, and was unable to eat. After finding himself on the floor unable to move, an ambulance brought him to a hospital where they diagnosed him with extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). The 23 pills plus a daily injection were almost unbearable. Tired of laying down just to stop from feeling dizzy, he joined a clinical trial evaluating a new TB drug regimen. In just 6 months, he was finally TB-free.
Want to help more people around the world like Marius?
Find more detailed TB information about South Africa in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
Find more detailed TB information about South Africa in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
Sometimes she would cough so hard she would fall out of bed.
– Chelsea's grandmother, Nora
Chelsea was only 3 years old when her grandmother noticed she was coughing, losing weight, and having trouble breathing. She was first diagnosed with pneumonia but after additional testing, it was determined she had TB. After just 2 days of receiving child-friendly TB treatment, Chelsea was already sleeping through the night. Now, Chelsea is a happy, cured, and carefree little girl.
Want to help more people around the world like Chelsea?
Find more detailed TB information about Kenya in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
Find more detailed TB information about Kenya in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
I know there are new medicines and drugs that are in development and I
would really love for them to reach the people who need them.
Melquiades is a drug-resistant TB survivor. What first felt like a cold turned into night sweats, fever, nausea, headaches, and depression. He was only 18 and was thinking he'd never see his family again. It took 2 years for him to beat TB—daily injections, hundreds of toxic drugs. He says it was damaging to his body and his soul. Melquiades believes that globally, we need to make more drugs available that can help cut recovery time. He feels that without care and human support, there's no way he would be here today. Together, we can use our voices to eliminate TB.
Want to help more people around the world like Melquiades?
Find more detailed TB information about Peru in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
Find more detailed TB information about Peru in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
I feel like myself again on these new medications—and now I
believe everyone should get treated for TB.
Besik was first diagnosed with TB in 2004. At that time, he remembers feeling like the medicines were unbearable. So bad that he could hardly move after taking them. He ended up stopping them as soon as he found out he wasn’t contagious, but all it took was for Besik to catch a cold in 2009 for his TB to come back–and it was drug-resistant. But he joined a clinical trial testing a new regimen and he was happily surprised with the improvements in the new medicines. Now that the medications are better, Besik thinks that everyone should now receive the help and care they need to treat their TB.
Want to help more people around the world like Besik?
Find more detailed TB information about Georgia in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
Find more detailed TB information about Georgia in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.
It's long past time to put TB back on the global agenda. Let's raise our voices and speak directly to world leaders and decision-makers.
Send this message below to do your part and demand action from those who can make a difference. We will no longer be quiet and wait for change—together we will be heard. It's time to get Louder Than TB.
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World leaders made a commitment
to end TB.
Let's take action and hold them to it.
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