Vanua Levu recorded 80 cases of tuberculosis last year and continues to receive reports this year.
This was part of the message from Labasa Hospital acting superintendent Dr Mikaele Mua during the World TB Day event held in Labasa last week.
“Close to 30,000 people are infected with these preventable and curable diseases,” he said.
“Each day close to 4400 people lose their lives to this deadliest infectious disease.
“Support is recommended to all TB patients in all walks of life whether they are in the community or workforce.”
Impacts of COVID-19, Dr Mua said, slowed efforts targeted towards TB.
Dr Mua said such annual events focused on urging countries to ramp up progress in the lead up to this year’s United Nation’s high level meeting on TB.
He said this meeting offered opportunities to raise visibility and political commitment.
“The World Health Organisation, together with partners, will issue a call to action urging member states to accelerate the rollout of the new WHO recommended shorter oral treatment for drug resistant TB,” Dr Mua said.
