(VOVWORLD) -On World Tuberculosis Day, March 24, Vietnam has renewed efforts to eliminate tuberculosis as it set its 2025 campaign slogan as “Vietnam commits, invests, and acts to end TB".
 Director of the Central Lung Hospital Dinh Van Luong speaks on the sidelines of the World Tuberculosis Day ceremony. Photo: laodongthudo.vn
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The campaign was launched in Hanoi on Monday, aiming to raise public awareness of the serious impacts of TB on human health, economy and society.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Vietnam currently has about 182,000 new TB patients; 9,900 drug-resistant patients and about 11,000 people die from TB every year. In 2023, Vietnam ranked 12th out of 30 countries with the highest TB burden in the world.
 Delegates attending the ceremony show a gesture of determination to end tuberculosis. Photo: VOV
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However, last year, the National Tuberculosis Control Program achieved its best results ever with more than 113,000 patients detected (up 7% compared to 2023), a screening rate with evidence of bacteria of over 72%, and a successful treatment rate of 89% (higher than the global rate of 88%). Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, acknowledged Vietnam’s progress in early detection and treatment of TB, as well as its successful treatment rate.
Dinh Van Luong, Director of the Central Lung Hospital, Head of the Executive Board of the National Tuberculosis Control Program, said this year's goal is to control tuberculosis coupled with medical facilities, so that all patients will undergo screening when visiting the doctor. This will help increase the rate of detection and treatment for TB patients.
“In terms of tuberculosis epidemiology, if the tuberculosis control rate exceeds 65-70%, we are on the right track, thereby successfully controlling tuberculosis in Vietnam,” Luong said.