The World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will on Monday, March 24 2003 observe World TB Day.

The commemoration of World TB Day 2003, the tenth anniversary, plays a crucial role in increasing the awareness of various stakeholders about the symptoms and treatment of TB, and the importance of effective TB control. The commemoration of World TB Day 2003 also has the potential to significantly increase case detection rates through education, awareness-building and social mobilization.

The release from WHO, said this year's commemoration seeks to educate the general public on the

symptoms and treatments of TB; encourage people to get tested at a DOTS clinic, if they have symptoms of TB; and persuade people to comply fully with the DOTS treatment strategy.

This year's World TB Day is being celebrated under the theme: "People with TB" with the slogan "DOTS cured me. It will cure you too."

Activities planned for observance of the day in Liberia include a Radio Talk Show as well as an indoor program at the Monrovia City Hall on Monday, March 24 to climax activities.

The release said TB continues to kill approximately two million people each year worldwide. The DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short-curse) treatment strategy cures patients, saves lives, prevents the spread of drug resistance and reduces disease transmission.

Yet, according to WHO estimates based on 2001 data, only 30% of active TB cases are being diagnosed and treated under DOTS programme.

The global targets of 70% case detection and 85% cure rates for those detected must be reached by 2005 in order to have TB prevalence and deaths by 2010.

Accelerating case detection is there critical.