World Tuberculosis Day is celebrated every year since 1882, when Dr. Robert Koch, a German physician and microbiologist discovered the bacterium which caused Tuberculosis and used it as a remedy against TB. Global efforts have saved an estimated 63 million lives since 2000, but according to WHO statistics, nearly 4000 people still lose their lives daily to TB.

The main slogan of the 2021 campaign 'The Clock Is Ticking' emphasizes the importance of time in the fight against tuberculosis.