On March 23, TB-Free Araneta City Campaign, marked its 1st anniversary. Chaired by J. Amado Araneta Foundation, the social development arm of the Araneta Group, the campaign was launched during the World TB Day Celebration in Gateway Mall, Araneta City.
Araneta City has put the health of its communities in the frontline of priorities, in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal #3 on ensuring healthy lives and the promotion of the well-being for all at all ages. More particularly, the UN SDG 3.3 target is to end the epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria and other communicable diseases by 2030.
According to World Health Organization, about one million Filipinos have active TB disease. This is the third highest prevalence rate in the world. It is a highly-curable disease. Yet, it is the number one killer among all infectious diseases. Every day, more than 70 people lose their lives to TB in the Philippines needlessly, or 3 Filipinos die every hour. Ending TB requires concerted action by all sectors and all care providers. Everyone has a role to play in ending TB – individuals, communities, businesses, governments and societies.