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Each year on 24 March, the world commemorates World TB Day, marking the moment in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced his groundbreaking discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). This discovery, made 144 years ago, laid the foundation for advances in TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Since then, remarkable progress has been achieved—from symptom-based screening to AI-enabled digital chest X-ray screening, from microscopy-only diagnosis to molecular and near–point-of-care tests, and from lengthy, toxic treatment regimens lasting nearly two years to shorter, safer four-to-six-month treatments, alongside a promising vaccine pipeline.

Despite these advances, TB remains a major public health challenge in Kenya and globally, continuing to cause significant social and economic harm. It is increasingly evident that TB cannot be eliminated through medical interventions alone. Stigma, discrimination, and social and economic inequalities persist as major barriers, preventing many people from accessing timely diagnosis and care.

World TB Day therefore presents a critical opportunity to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of TB, reduce stigma, and renew collective action to end the global TB epidemic.

This year’s World TB Day commemoration in Kenya highlighted a crucial reality: TB does not affect everyone equally. Biological factors, gender norms, social roles, and economic conditions shape how individuals experience TB and access healthcare. TB disproportionately affects men, particularly those in the most economically productive age group (20–44 years). Evidence, including findings from the LIGHT Consortium, shows that men account for the majority of TB cases, yet two out of every three undiagnosed or unnotified TB cases are among men. Furthermore, men, women, and young people face distinct barriers along the TB care pathway, underscoring the need for gender-transformative, equity-driven approaches to ensure universal access to TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

The event deliberately focused on youth and men, recognizing their critical role in ending TB. Led by the National TB and Lung Disease Program under Dr Immaculate Kathure, OGW, and implemented in partnership with key stakeholders including LIGHT Consortium Kenya partners (African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) and Respiratory Society of Kenya (ReSoK), the event was hosted at the University of Nairobi Graduation Square to strategically engage young people where they gather and influence change. Highlights included a football match and a youth-centered End TB concert featuring Bensoul, a celebrated artist and TB survivor. By sharing his lived experience, Bensoul powerfully encouraged TB screening and helped break down stigma. Amplifying the voices of male and youth champions proved instrumental in raising awareness, while targeted TB messaging shared across youth-driven platforms strengthened reach and impact. Sustained youth-focused engagement remains essential to accelerating stigma reduction and TB prevention.

Bensoul, a celebrated artist and TB survivor who led the EndTB Concert in Nairobi

The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health, Hon. Aden Duale, EGH, graced the World TB day event calling for a whole of government approach to addressing the social drivers of TB while also using targeted gender responsive interventions for reaching out to high-risk groups particularly men who account for majority of cases. He specifically called out on men to get screened and tested for TB. Other government officials in attendance included Principal Secretary State Department Public Health and Professional Standards – Ps. Mary Muthoni, CBS, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee for Health – Hon. Dr James Nyikal, CBS, and Director Primary Health Care – Dr Joel Gondi.

The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health, Hon. Aden Duale, EGH and other government officials among them Principal Secretary State Department Public Health and Professional Standards – Ps. Mary Muthoni, CBS, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee for Health – Hon. Dr James Nyikal, CBS, and Director Primary Health Care – Dr Joel Gondi graced the occasion.

The LIGHT Consortium has been instrumental in highlighting men bearing disproportionate share of the TB burden yet underserved due to harmful notions of masculinity and health systems that lack gender-responsive services. LIGHT has also brought the unique needs of adolescents and young adults (AYA) to the fore, advocating for youth-responsive services and disaggregated data to unearth and address the critical gaps this vulnerable group faces in the care cascade. LIGHT has also empowered the youth with a voice to advocate for their TB rights and be part of national and global discourse on TB.

It was great to see this come to life …the youthful energy was evident during the World TB day….

TB si mwisho wa story…pima, treat, songa…… (TB is not the end of the story… test, treat, move on (or keep moving)

Together, led by government and powered by youth and men, we can end TB!