At a roundtable discussion held on September 16 in Phnom Penh, public health experts and more than 60 media representatives gathered to address a pressing challenge – how Cambodia can strengthen its efforts to end tuberculosis (TB) by 2030. 

The event, hosted by the Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance (KHANA) and the Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ), focused on the important role the media must play in raising awareness about the disease and ensuring that the country’s ambitious public health goals are met.

KHANA representative Chhoeun Chhonna emphasised the need for collaborative efforts between civil society and the media. 

“In Cambodia, we have the National Centre for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control (CENAT) playing a key role in ensuring that TB elimination goals are achieved,” he said, adding that the media can be a critical partner in reaching the public. 

“Civil society organisations [CSOs] also contribute significantly in addressing the gaps, but we need more visibility through media channels,” he stressed. 

The human side of the battle against TB was brought into focus by Vat Lida, a representative of TB People Cambodia, who shared her family’s personal experience with the disease. 

Lida recounted how her father received treatment for TB in the 1990s and how her sister also successfully overcame the disease. However, it was her husband’s experience that underscored the silent danger of TB. 

"After my husband contracted TB, we had no idea where it came from. He was diagnosed with active tuberculosis, also known as BK+,” Lida recalled. 

She stressed the importance of timely diagnosis and awareness, noting that many people unknowingly spread the disease. She said some people undergo a lung scan but do not follow up for treatment. 

“A man diagnosed with TB continued working as an ice cream vendor in a village, interacting with children daily, unaware of the risks,” said Lida. 

CENAT technical director Nou Chanly used the event to highlight the critical importance of both media involvement and public education in breaking the cycle of TB transmission. 

“Tuberculosis is not hereditary; it is an infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium,” Chanly clarified. 

He explained that TB is primarily spread through airborne droplets, such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes. 

“Many people may carry the bacteria without showing symptoms, but if untreated, they remain at risk of developing active TB and spreading it further,” he warned.

Chanly emphasised that incomplete treatment remains a significant issue in the battle. He said many patients feel better after the first two months of intensive treatment and mistakenly believe they are cured, so they stop taking their medication. 

This dangerous oversight often leads to drug-resistant TB, which requires a much longer and more complicated treatment process. 

“Drug-resistant TB is not only harder to treat, but it also increases the risk of spreading a stronger, more resilient strain of the bacteria,” Chanly added.

KHANA executive director Chuob Sok Chamroeun warned of the ripple effects of untreated cases. 

“One TB patient can infect 10 to 15 people at a time,” he said, underscoring the importance of immediate action in identifying and treating cases. 

He also stressed the need for collaboration with the media to raise public awareness about the dangers of TB and the importance of consistent treatment.

Chamroeun presented key facts, underscoring TB as the "top infectious disease killer globally" and stressing the need for consistent efforts in finding and treating all cases. 

He highlighted the airborne nature of the disease, stating that it can "affect anyone, anywhere". 

He further warned that "drug-resistant TB is a public health crisis" that must be addressed urgently, as it complicates treatment and increases mortality rates.

In line with WHO’s vision of a "world free of TB", Cambodia has laid out its own strategic plan. 

Chamroeun noted that the WHO's target is to reduce TB deaths by 90 per cent and TB incidence by 80 per cent compared to 2015 levels by 2030.

He also emphasised that the disease is treatable and curable, and access to timely intervention is crucial to avoid complications, including the emergence of resistant variants.

Cambodia’s National Strategy to End TB by 2030 aims to align with WHO’s goals. Targets have been set for case notifications and treatment, particularly for children under 15 and drug-resistant cases. 

In 2023, the country aimed for 33,000 TB case notifications across all forms, with targets increasing yearly to reach over 35,000 by 2027. 

Special attention is also given to children under 15, with a goal to notify 8,350 cases starting in 2023, increasing gradually over the following years.

The country’s progress has been significant, but challenges remain. Case notifications for 2022 reached 32,770, and for 2023, it is estimated that 32,864 will be reported, with 13,284 of those being bacteriologically confirmed. 

While these numbers are encouraging, they underscore the need for sustained efforts in early detection, treatment adherence and public awareness campaigns.

The roundtable discussion called for greater media involvement in spreading awareness. 

Chamroeun reiterated that "finding and treating" TB patients is critical to ending the disease and that the media has a crucial role to play in educating the public. 

Cambodia’s national plan is aligned with the country’s broader development goals, aiming for a "TB-free Cambodia" by 2030, where no deaths, illness or suffering are caused by the disease. 

The country has made headway in reducing TB cases over the past decade. From 2016 to 2020, it was among the 30 nations with the highest TB burden globally, but by 2021, Cambodia had moved out of this group. 

Despite these gains, the country remains under global surveillance. Cambodia’s incidence of TB in 2022 was 320 cases per 100,000 people, with a mortality rate of 23 per 100,000.

While these numbers represent improvement, Chanly pointed out that the country’s fight is far from over. Recent TB prevalence surveys, conducted in 2002 and 2011, showed a drop from 437 cases per 100,000 to 271 cases – a 38 per cent decrease over nine years. 

However, Chanly stressed that continuous vigilance and public engagement are needed to sustain this progress. 

He highlighted that the plan aligns with the country’s broader national development goals, which aim to elevate the country to upper-middle-income status by 2030.

CCJ president Puy Kea echoed these concerns, calling on journalists to play a more active role in raising awareness. 

“The next six years are crucial for Cambodia to reach its TB elimination goals, and the media has a critical responsibility in ensuring the public stays informed,” he stressed. 

Kea noted that despite the disease being a major public health issue, media coverage has been lacking. 

“We need to increase our efforts and ensure that no one remains unaware of the risks or the importance of completing treatment,” he said.