Press Release for World TB Day and the launch of the WHO Global TB Control Report

24 March 2009 - Rio De Janeiro - The total number of new tuberculosis (TB) cases remained stable in 2007, and the percentage of the world's population becoming ill with TB has continued the slow decline that was first observed in 2004, according to a new report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) today.

The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, today condemned the killing of Afghan reporter Jawed Ahmad on 10 March in Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan.

“I condemn the killing of Jawed Ahmad,” the Director-General said. “The life of a dedicated reporter has been cut short, depriving the whole of Afghan society of a brave promoter of democratic debate and a defender of the basic human right of freedom of expression.”

Also known as Jojo Yazemi, Jawed Ahmad worked for the Canadian media, including CTV News. He was gunned down by two men as he was getting out of his car in the centre of Kandahar.