KUALA LUMPUR, April 8- Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad revealed that Malaysia witnessed a concerning two percent increase in tuberculosis (TB) deaths last year, totaling 2,623 fatalities compared to 2022. Speaking on World TB Day, Dr Dzulkefly highlighted the importance of intensifying efforts to detect and initiate early treatment for TB, emphasizing its significant disease burden on the Malaysian population.
Dr Dzulkefly emphasized that TB, an airborne infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, affects various organs and symptoms include persistent cough, fever, weight loss, and coughing up blood. He urged dispelling misconceptions surrounding TB symptoms to encourage prompt examination and treatment-seeking behavior. Additionally, he stressed the importance of screening for high-risk individuals, including those with HIV, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, active smokers, and those in contact with TB cases.
The Health Minister underscored the nation’s aspiration to eradicate TB as an infectious disease by 2035, aligning with the World Health Organisation’s ‘Stop TB Strategy.’ He called for commitment and cooperation among individuals, communities, and agencies to achieve this goal, echoing this year’s World TB Day theme, “Yes! We Can End TB,” which emphasizes collective efforts to eradicate TB through increased investment and innovation.
