Message from Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health

World Tuberculosis Day

March 24, 2013

March 24 is World Tuberculosis Day. This day is an opportunity to shed light on a significant public health concern that has been affecting individuals and their families for far too long.

Although tuberculosis (TB) rates are significantly lower in Canada than in other parts of the world, more than 1,600 Canadian cases were diagnosed in 2011. Our goal is to reduce active TB to 1,300 cases in Canada by 2015 and ultimately eliminate TB by 2050.  To achieve this, we need to focus our efforts on the people most affected by this disease, namely Aboriginal peoples and foreign-born individuals from countries with a high rate of TB.

As outlined in Health Canada's Strategy Against Tuberculosis for First Nations On-Reserve, our Government continues to work with First Nations, provinces and TB experts in Canada to reduce the rate of TB. This involves making sure TB awareness, prevention and care services are available to First Nations on-reserve.  For example, Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit TB awareness campaign supports culturally appropriate and relevant messaging focussed on decreasing stigma and fear associated with the disease.

The Public Health Agency of Canada plays a key role in understanding the overall picture of TB in Canada. Earlier this month, the Public Health Agency released the Tuberculosis in Canada 2011 Pre-Release report to its partners. The Agency continues to collect TB surveillance data across the country and share results with the provinces and territories so they have the information needed to develop programs that are effective in preventing and managing this disease.

In addition to surveillance, research plays an important role in addressing underlying risk factors for TB. Through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Government of Canada invested more than $5.5 million in funding for tuberculosis research in 2011-12 and a total of $23 million on tuberculosis-related research since 2006.

Together, these activities continue to advance Canada's efforts and bring us one step closer to meeting our TB targets.

On World Tuberculosis Day, I encourage all Canadians to become informed about TB prevention and care. Together we can work towards ridding our communities of this disease.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Leona Aqlukkaq
Minister of Health