Bangladesh: WHO fighting to maintain essential tuberculosis prevention during COVID-19 pandemic

Despite being a preventable and curable disease, 1.5 million people die from TB every year, making it the world’s top infectious killer. Most of the people infected with TB live in low and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh.

In Cox’s Bazar, the National TB control program (NTP) was extended to the refugee camps and strengthened amongst host communities since the influx of nearly one million refugees three years ago. In coordination with NTP, WHO is providing human resources, technical and logistic support to strengthen the national response on TB control in the district. The program includes early TB detection of drug sensitive and drug-resistant (DR) Tuberculosis and timely and quality treatment to all patients.

Since the onset of the COVID-19, Cox’s Bazar has been at arms with responding to the outbreak whilst reducing the impact of the pandemic in the delivery of essential health services. WHO has raised concerns that vulnerable populations with poor access to health care should not become further marginalized during the pandemic. In Cox’s Bazar, WHO and health partners continue to protect TB progress from setbacks.

WHO thanks all donors and partners who have contributed to fund the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to combat COVID-19. A special appreciation goes to Member States and other contributors who provided flexible funds, making it possible for WHO to deliver a coherent, strategic and broad response.