These figures were disclosed at a workshop held in a hybrid format in Hanoi on March 24 to mark the World TB Day, with an aim to raise public awareness of the serious impacts of tuberculosis on public health and socio-economic development, and boost efforts to put an end to the disease.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said that although Vietnam has gained a lot of achievements in TB prevention and control, it is among countries with a high TB burden, with 169,000 detected cases and 12,000 deaths in 2021.

Tuan cited the Global Tuberculosis Report 2022 as saying that Vietnam ranked 11th out of 30 countries with the highest burden in the world, and was facing a risk of outbreaks in the community.

Notably, 70% of TB patients are of working age, making the disease really a problem affecting the economy of each family in particular and the country in general.

Therefore, investing in ending TB is investing in sustainable development, Thuan emphasised.

World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Vietnam Angela Pratt appreciated Vietnam’s efforts in TB prevention and control. She said Vietnam has carried out many important policies, including ensuring sustainable financing for treatment, and piloting and duplicating the proactive detection of cases as well as the application of more modern technology in testing./. VNA