Addis Ababa, March 24, 2010 (Addis Ababa)
- Ethiopia celebrates the 'world tuberculosis (TB) day' for the 13th time on Wednesday under the theme, "On the move against tuberculosis innovate to accelerate action". The day is celebrated globally this year for 30th time.
Addressing an event held in connection with the day, State Minister of Health Dr. Kebede Worku the Ethiopian government has been mobilizing the public toward improving health services in the country besides implementing prevention-centered health policies and strategies to curb health-related problems in the country.
However, he said, low level of public awareness about tuberculosis, absence of rapid TB diagnosis and medical treatment, and strong TB-HIV/AIDS synergy, among other factors, worsens the spread of tuberculosis in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia ranks 7th among the 22 high TB-burden countries worldwide, he said, the country stands 3rd among such African countries. The country is undertaking free TB diagnosis and treatment at 1,448 state-owned health service institutions and at more than 230 private health service facilities.
According to the minister, pertinent governmental organizations and other stakeholders are expected to establish a 'national partnership forum for TB prevention and control' as part of the celebration.
According to the 2009 World Health Organization (WHO) Estimate, the prevalence of TB of all forms in Ethiopia stands at 579 per 100,000 populations while the Millennium Development Goal envisages reducing global TB prevalence to 156 per 100,000 populations.