The Giving Hands

Did you know that..

• tuberculosis, or more commonly known as TB, kills 1.7 million people annually and infects someone every second?
• each year almost two million people die from TB and approximately nine million people develop the disease?
• new cases are increasing especially in Eastern Europe and Africa?
• TB diagnosis and treatment protocols have not kept pace as the most commonly used drug was developed more than 30 years ago?
• according to the World Health Organization, controlling TB will require an extra $650 million a year in addition to current spending?

Did you also know that TB treatment generally lasts eight months, and requires taking multiple pills daily, some of which can have significant side effects: liver problems, vomiting, headaches, joint pain, depression and even psychosis?? Consequently, failure to complete the regimen is common, and restarting treatment after interruption increases the risk of drug resistance.

Now, to combat that, Doctors Without Borders USA has introduced more flexible strategies, allowing patients to take drugs at home while keeping high adherence levels. The organization also distributes easy-to-use fixed-dose combination drugs, shortening the treatment period to six months. With fewer pills to take daily, patients are less likely to share or stop taking pills because of side effects.

Besides Doctors Without Borders, Project HOPE, which now has 66 staff members in Central Asia working specifically on TB, is the largest and most comprehensive program in the region. It provides technical assistance and support, strengthens laboratory quality assurance and trains staff in patient management, emphasizing education and adherence to treatment. It also facilitates involvement of local NGOs in TB control.

TB is a curable disease. And I am a walking example.