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when the world agreed to cough it up for tb, this is not what anyone had in mind.

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.

Peru

  • TB Cases: 39,000
  • Annual TB Deaths:
    2,610
  • Drug-Resistant
    TB Cases: 3,200
Read Melquiades's TB Story

INDIA

  • TB Cases: 2,690,000
  • Annual TB Deaths: 449,700
  • Drug-Resistant TB Cases: 130,000
Read Saurabh's TB Story

Bangladesh

  • TB Cases: 357,000
  • Annual TB Deaths: 47,190
  • Drug-Resistant TB Cases: 5,900

China

  • TB Cases: 866,000
  • Annual TB Deaths: 39,400
  • Drug-Resistant TB Cases: 66,000

Philippines

  • TB Cases: 591,000
  • Annual TB Deaths: 26,600
  • Drug-Resistant TB Cases: 18,000
Read Jerik's TB Story

Indonesia

  • TB Cases: 845,000
  • Annual TB Deaths: 98,300
  • Drug-Resistant TB Cases: 24,000

Kenya

  • TB Cases: 150,000
  • Annual TB Deaths: 32,000
  • Drug-Resistant TB Cases: 2,300
Read Chelsea's TB Story

Georgia

  • TB Cases: 3,200
  • Annual TB Deaths: 177
  • Drug-Resistant TB Cases: 570
Read Besik's TB Story

Nigeria

  • TB Cases: 429,000
  • Annual TB Deaths: 157,000
  • Drug-Resistant TB Cases: 21,000

Pakistan

  • TB Cases: 562,000
  • Annual TB Deaths: 44,300
  • Drug-Resistant
    TB Cases: 28,000
Read Bilal's TB Story

South Africa

  • TB Cases: 301,000
  • Annual TB Deaths: 63,000
  • Drug-Resistant TB Cases: 11,000
Read Marius's TB Story
India

Meet Saurabh

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?

Click to Take Action for TB

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.

China

Share Your Story

If you're from China and have your own TB story we would love to hear from you. Simply fill out the following fields for a chance to be featured on this page in the future.

Thank You

We know it takes a lot of courage to open up about TB. Check in soon for the chance to see your story featured on your country’s page.

Want to help more people around the world fight TB?

Click to Take Action for TB

Find more detailed TB information about China in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.

Find more detailed TB information about China in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.

Indonesia

Share Your Story

If you're from Indonesia and have your own TB story we would love to hear from you. Simply fill out the following fields for a chance to be featured on this page in the future.

Thank You

We know it takes a lot of courage to open up about TB. Check in soon for the chance to see your story featured on your country’s page.

Want to help more people around the world fight TB?

Click to Take Action for TB

Find more detailed TB information about Indonesia in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.

Find more detailed TB information about Indonesia in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.

Philippines

Meet Jerik

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?

Click to Take Action for TB

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.

Pakistan

Meet Bilal

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?

Click to Take Action for TB

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.

Nigeria

Share Your Story

If you're from Nigeria and have your own TB story we would love to hear from you. Simply fill out the following fields for a chance to be featured on this page in the future.

Thank You

We know it takes a lot of courage to open up about TB. Check in soon for the chance to see your story featured on your country’s page.

Want to help more people around the world fight TB?

Click to Take Action for TB

Find more detailed TB information about Nigeria in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.

Find more detailed TB information about Nigeria in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.

Bangladesh

Share Your Story

If you're from Bangladesh and have your own TB story we would love to hear from you. Simply fill out the following fields for a chance to be featured on this page in the future.

Thank You

We know it takes a lot of courage to open up about TB. Check in soon for the chance to see your story featured on your country’s page.

Want to help more people around the world fight TB?

Click to Take Action for TB

Find more detailed TB information about Bangladesh in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.

Find more detailed TB information about Bangladesh in The WHO Global TB Report 2019.

South Africa

Meet Marius

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?

Click to Take Action for TB

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.

Kenya

Meet Chelsea

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?

Click to Take Action for TB

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.

Peru

Meet Melquiades

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?

Click to Take Action for TB

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.

Georgia

Meet Besik

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?

Click to Take Action for TB

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.

The Unmet Pledges to End TB

Let Your Voice Be Heard

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.

Because you can make a difference:

I was recently informed that promises to help the global TB crisis have yet to be fulfilled.

In 2018, your government adopted the Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting of the UNGA on the Fight Against TB. Since then, more than 3 million people have died from TB. That's more than 4,000 people every day.

As a deeply concerned citizen, I am asking you to please refocus your efforts to the global TB crisis. With so many lives affected, we can’t afford to ignore TB for one more day.

Please step up to honor the millions of people who desperately need your help as well as your pledge to:

  • Treat 40 million people by 2022
  • Mobilize USD 13 billion a year for prevention and care
  • Dedicate USD 2 billion for research, including the advancement of drugs and diagnostics
  • Promote equal access to resources
  • Take action against drug-resistant forms of the disease

Thank you for following through on your country's commitment to ending this pandemic.

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Your email has been sent to health ministries and finance ministries in more than 190 countries around the world.

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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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