Blog Entry 8

Global Tuberculosis

Summary:

 Tuberculosis is a disease that can affect anyone anywhere in the world. There are treatments that are very effective and have allowed more than twenty million people to live today. However while we have treatment for it people are still dying all over the world because of the disease. “Tuberculosis is second only to HIV/AIDS in the number of people it kills.” One in five who has the drug resistant form of Tuberculosis is being treated. That means that four out of five who have it are not being treated at all and this is mostly in places like India and China. Most of these people are in low and middle-income countries due to gaps in funding for treatment. New vaccines are being created to help with these gaps according to the World Health Organization (WHO). If this problem is not fixed more deaths because of this disease should be expected. Dr. Fauci says that “we have a moral obligation to address this problem.” Tuberculosis is a Global health threat still today even though we have treatments for this deadly disease.

Analysis:

                Tuberculosis is a disease that has plagued all members in our global society since it first came about. It is a disease that can kill people even though we have a treatment. This makes me question what would happen if a cure for HIV/AIDS was discovered. What would happen to the individuals who still had the virus but were unable to afford proper treatment? Is it fair for one person who has more money and resources to get treatment as opposed to someone who can’t afford it? Tuberculosis is a disease that we should be able to declare a victory over, but we can’t because of money. Too many people are dying today because they don’t have enough money to take care of their health. This topic sheds light on the global health care issue.

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/17/fight-against-tuberculosis-a-mixed-bag/?iref=allsearch

10:56am 

10/19/12