On March 24, 2026, an event dedicated to World Tuberculosis Day was held, jointly organized by the Azerbaijan Anti-Tuberculosis NGO Coalition and the Lung Diseases Center of TABİB .
According to QHT.az, the event was opened with a welcoming speech by Elchin Mukhtarli, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Anti-Tuberculosis NGO Coalition and the “Service to Health” Public Union, who stated that the main purpose of the event was to discuss the current situation in the fight against tuberculosis, strengthen intersectoral cooperation, and increase public awareness.
Mr. Mukhtarli noted that, according to data from the World Health Organization, more than 10 million people worldwide contract tuberculosis each year, and approximately 1.4 million people lose their lives due to this disease. At the same time, Azerbaijan remains among the 30 countries with a high burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis, which once again demonstrates the urgency of the problem.
Iftikhar Gurbanov, Deputy Director of the Lung Diseases Center, stated in his speech that significant positive progress has been achieved in recent years as a result of early diagnosis, modern treatment methods, and community-based approaches, and that the institution he represents continues to introduce consistent innovations in this field.
Asgar Ismayilov, Head of the Department for the Organization of Medical Services at the Lung Diseases Center, provided information about new services and areas of activity planned in relation to tuberculosis.
In the next part of the event, a plenary session was held with the participation of Elchin Mukhtarli, Chairman of the “Service to Health” Public Union; Chingiz Ramazanli, Chairman of the “Towards a TB-Free Future” Public Union; Jasarat Huseynzada, Chairman of the “Support for Information and Social Initiatives” Public Union; representatives of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society Matanat Garakhanova and Sona Hajiyeva; Jamila Abdulova, Chairwoman of the Public Union “Social Assistance for Persons with Hearing and Speech Impairments”; and Sabina Karimova, Chairwoman of the Public Union “Support for Social Protection and Integration of Persons with Disabilities.”
During the session, the contributions of NGOs in the fight against tuberculosis, achievements made, and existing challenges were discussed. Speakers shared their views on the role of NGOs in combating tuberculosis in Azerbaijan, their fields of activity, the financial and resource-related challenges they face, the current level of cooperation with government institutions, and the results achieved in identifying patients.
Within the framework of the conference, the global messages and slogans of the current year — “End TB!” and “Yes! We Can End TB!” — were particularly emphasized.
It was noted that cooperation between government institutions, international organizations, and NGOs in Azerbaijan is being strengthened in the fight against tuberculosis. In particular, combating drug-resistant tuberculosis and developing patient-centered services remain among the priority areas.
Participants of the event once again emphasized the importance of joint efforts to eliminate tuberculosis and discussed future directions for action.
At the end of the event, participants gathered outdoors and took a group photo under the slogan:
“Yes! We Can End TB!”
