24 March 2012 – World TB Day was commemorated on 24 March 2012 across the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, with renewed commitment and enthusiasm. Elaborate activities were held by ministries of health, civil society, TB patients, celebrities and media across 23 countries of the Region, from Afghanistan to Morocco.

In his message, Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, expressed his appreciation of the hard work in the fight against the disease and urged further commitment and accelerating efforts.

In his statement on the occasion of World TB Day, Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, highlighted TB as a neglected disease which had caused much suffering and was yet to be controlled.

The Secretary-General also wrote, on this occasion, letters to all Heads of State of the 22 high-burden countries in the world, including Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, calling for renewed attention and commitment to TB control.