Sensitization of the youth representatives on tobacco control

World TB Day is commemorated each year on 24th March to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. According to the World Health Organization’s, Global TB Report 2023, India accounted for the highest number of tuberculosis cases in the world in 2022, representing a staggering 27 per cent of the global burden, India recorded 2.8 million (28.2 lakh) TB cases in 2022.

Studies indicate that Tobacco smokers are at a higher risk of developing tuberculosis and experiencing more severe forms of the disease. Individuals who smoke tobacco are 2.5 times more likely to develop pulmonary tuberculosis compared to non-smokers.

TB patients who smoke face double the risk of death during treatment as smoking not only heightens susceptibility to TB but also undermines treatment effectiveness.