St. Mary Hospital celebrates World TB Day

On the 24th of March, the world commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis (TB), the deadliest infectious killer worldwide. This day aims to raise awareness about the disease and encourage people, healthcare providers and government to take action.

On March 24, 2025, St. Mary Catholic Primary Hospital in Dubbo, South Ethiopia Region, hosted a community-focused event on the occasion of the World TB Day. Led by CEO Mr. Bongani and Medical Director Tsion Asfaw (MD/MPH), the hospital provided free TB screenings, health education, and awareness sessions to over 96 people from Dubbo and surrounding areas, including Afama Mino (as village 15km away from Dubbo, where the hospital delivers outreach services).

St. Mary Catholic Hospital Staff celebrating World TB Day-2025

Prior to the event, the hospital mobilized the community and distributed multilingual informational materials to promote participation. During the day, health professionals conducted screenings, interactive Q&A sessions, and detailed discussions on TB prevention, symptoms, and treatment.

Community members attend health education session on TB prevention and treatment

Among the 96 people screened and tested for TB using GeneXpert, 3 were identified positive for TB.

Nurses conducting TBscreening

The celebration concluded with gratitude to the hospital team and sponsors, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and Awash Bank, whose support ensured the success of the event.

Lessons from the day were reviewed, paving the way for future health initiatives to strengthen community care.