Tuberculosis Association of Nepal began year-long golden jubilee celebrations of its founding Saturday.

Health Minister Kamal Thapa said there are 80,000 TB patients in the country and 50,000 new cases are reported every year. Seven thousand persons succumb to the disease every year, he said.

Thapa launched the celebrations in Lalitpur Saturday. Thapa said a DOTS programme to give free treatment to patients was successful in fighting the disease.