[Photo] Tuberculosis Prevention Day, Campaign for a Healthy Society Free of Tuberculosis

Dongdaemun-gu, March 24 Tuberculosis Prevention Day Commemorative Promotional Campaign for Free Meal Service Users

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) conducted a tuberculosis prevention awareness campaign on March 24, Tuberculosis Prevention Day, targeting over 700 homeless people and elderly individuals using the free meal service operated by the Bapppun Sharing Movement Headquarters in the district.

The event was held to raise awareness about the importance of tuberculosis prevention and management among vulnerable groups with low medical accessibility and high tuberculosis incidence rates, and to increase vigilance against tuberculosis.

The district distributed promotional materials including leaflets bearing the slogan "A Tuberculosis-Free Society, Healthy Dongdaemun-gu," masks, and hand sanitizers, providing various health information for tuberculosis prevention such as cough etiquette, how to respond if tuberculosis develops, and infectious disease prevention guidelines.

Tuberculosis is a respiratory infectious disease transmitted through the air by tuberculosis bacteria expelled from the coughs, sneezes, or conversations of tuberculosis patients.

Although often perceived as a disease that has disappeared, South Korea ranks first among OECD member countries in tuberculosis incidence, with over 20,000 new patients annually and more than 1,600 deaths each year.

Tuberculosis can be completely cured if detected early and treated consistently, making prevention and management paramount.

Accordingly, the district is actively implementing projects for early detection and transmission prevention of tuberculosis, including ▲reporting, notification, and registration management of tuberculosis patients ▲mobile tuberculosis screening for the elderly and homeless ▲tuberculosis screening for high school students in the district ▲epidemiological investigations in group facilities ▲contact investigations of family members ▲and tuberculosis prevention awareness campaigns targeting local residents.

A Dongdaemun-gu Public Health Center official stated, "Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease threatening public health, and we will continue to do our best to eradicate it," urging, "Anyone experiencing symptoms such as a cough lasting more than two weeks, weight loss, low-grade fever, or loss of appetite, or who has been in contact with a tuberculosis patient, should definitely undergo tuberculosis testing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.