Winifred Bosa.
To end Tuberculosis , (TB) in our world , we must support TB patient in ending the death, stigma and difficulties associated with TB and also collectively help them,  increase their access to quality care, said  Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).
Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai, President of PSN in a  said this in a press statement to  commemorate Tuberculosis day.
With the the theme of World TB Day 2017  Unite to End TB , he observed that tuberculosis today remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the deaths of nearly one-and-a-half million people each year, mostly in developing countries.

“In 2015, 10.4 million people fell ill with TB and 1.8 million died from the disease (including 0.4 million among people with HIV). Over 95% of TB deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. Six countries account for 60% of the total, with India leading the count, followed by Indonesia, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa”.
And in the same year , he pointed out that  an estimated 1 million children became ill with TB and 170 000 children died of TB (excluding children with HIV).
He said,”TB is a leading killer of HIV-positive people: in 2015, 35% of HIV deaths were due to TB. Globally in 2015, an estimated 480 000 people developed multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). ”
However , Ahmed stated that the  incidence has fallen by an average of 1.5% per year since 2000 and that this needs to accelerate to a 4–5% annual decline to reach the 2020 milestones of the “End TB Strategy.
” An estimated 49 million lives were saved through TB diagnosis and treatment between 2000 and 2015. Ending the TB epidemic by 2030 is among the health targets of the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals”
So to end this , PSN president said that WHO “End TB Strategy”, adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2014, is a blueprint for countries to end the TB epidemic by driving down TB deaths, incidence and eliminating catastrophic costs.
He ,outlines global impact targets to reduce TB deaths by 90%, to cut new cases by 80% between 2015 and 2030, and to ensure that no family is burdened with catastrophic costs due to TB, as thus
integrated patient-centred care and prevention,  bold policies and supportive systems and intensified research and innovation.
He added that the success of the Strategy will depend on countries respecting the following 4 key principles as they implement the interventions outlined in each pillar: government stewardship and accountability, with monitoring and evaluation, strong coalition with civil society organizations and communities, protection and promotion of human rights, ethics and equity and  adaptation of the strategy and targets at country level, with global collaboration.