By Phyllis AlRoy
Tuberculosis is the world’s biggest infectious killer even though it is a treatable, curable and preventable disease. Every day, TB kills more than 4,000 people.
Why? Because world leaders have not made ending TB a priority. Right now we have the knowledge, but we have not solved the problem identifying all of the cases and of patients not consistently taking the drugs they were given initially. This leads to drug-resistant strains of TB which are stubbornly difficult to cure.
First came drug-resistant strains (DR), then came multi-drug resistant strains (MDR), then even more serious XDR, extensively drug-resistant strains. lf we can eliminate these drug-resistant strains, it will be possible to eliminate TB altogether. If we don’t, TB could become an untreatable, extremely expensive pandemic with few solutions.
One reason TB has not been a political priority is because TB-related deaths occur in lower income countries. Living in poverty makes one more likely to be pushed into deeper poverty by TB. Under-nutrition, poorly ventilated housing and schools, and a lack of access to basic healthcare are all risk factors for TB.
Initial treatment for drug-resistant TB is even worse. Treatment can last years and cost thousands of dollars. Maintaining employment can become impossible and it is not unusual for a person to spend everything they own over the course of diagnosis and treatment.
There is the stigma with TB as well, which can be so severe that a person often delays seeking treatment or tries to seek treatment in another town so no one in their town will know. Sometimes children get pulled out of school to care for family members. The socio-economic impact ripples into entire families and communities.
To solve these problems and end TB, we must prioritize the lives of all people. Every life must be “worth saving.” We must acknowledge TB is a justice issue, an equity issue and a cause and consequence of poverty.
This fall, world leaders will gather for a United Nations high level meeting to make commitments in the fight against TB. Right now, more than 10 million people get TB every year and 1.7 million die from the disease. One in three people sick with TB are not even reached by their health system.
lf we want to end the disease, the first step is to reach these “missing millions.” When heads of state and other world leaders gather at the United Nations, they need to commit to putting in the attention and resources to make that happen. It is up to us to make certain decision-makers not only pay attention this year, but take action on TB.
The global funding gap for treatment and prevention is about $2 billion annually. Right now, 85 percent of the money going to TB comes from high-burden countries themselves. Countries like the United States can do so much more to drive up diagnosis and treatment rates, build up the capacity of TB programs and fund sorely needed research. lt is an investment that would have invaluable returns.
It is not only a matter of financial resources and a laser focus to end this epidemic. This disease is preventable and treatable, but only if we do what it takes to reach everyone.
Phyllis AlRoy is a New Jersey group leader with RESULTS, a volunteer citizens lobby group
whose aim is to end poverty in the world by 2035.