TUBERCULOSIS (TB) remains among the top ten killers of children worldwide, yet virtually no public or political attention is paid to TB as a children’s health issue.
The world’s most vulnerable children are bearing the brunt of this neglect. In 2009, one million children became sick with TB and it is those who are malnourished, orphaned or living with HIV that are most likely to die from this entirely treatable and largely curable disease.
This week, ACTION is calling attention to the neglect and has released a report, Children and Tuberculosis: Exposing a Hidden Epidemic.
The report is a reminder that TB is not a disease of the past and remains a leading killer, especially of children whose underdeveloped immune systems leave them particularly susceptible.
According to Dr. Ben Marais, a leading TB specialist at The Children’s Hospital Westmead, the prevention, diagnosis and management of children with TB:
“(TB) remains a significant challenge in countries where the TB epidemic is poorly controlled. In these settings, TB is often a major unrecognized cause of disease and death in young children, while it is readily treatable. Greater awareness must be translated into more effective models of care, backed by local political commitment to make a difference.”
“(TB) remains a significant challenge in countries where the TB epidemic is poorly controlled. In these settings, TB is often a major unrecognized cause of disease and death in young children, while it is readily treatable. Greater awareness must be translated into more effective models of care, backed by local political commitment to make a difference.”
It is through this eye-opening report that RESULTS hopes to call attention to the immediate need to stop neglecting TB and increase funding and research for this deadly but preventable disease to save children’s lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment