Why treat TB
"Within the next 10 years, 300 million people will become infected (with tuberculosis), and without treatment, each person will infect 10 to 15 other people each year. WHO want governments to invest $500 million to fight the threat." Journal of International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care, May 1996 . There are many reasons why TB treatment is important. 1. The current stratagy of treating TB in India needs work. While treatment is readily available, the infrastructure that’s in place does not serve those who need treatment the most.
2. Impact on the Community: TB is highly contagious. When a person is treated, a chain of infection is terminated and an average of 12 persons are saved from the disease.
3. Economic Benefits: TB treatment provides massive economic benefits to the patient, concerned family and society.
4. Resource requirement is minimal a. TB is curable with limited resources . Medicines are available for free, which is a large portion of the cost of treatment. b. The benefit of treatment is often life-long as relapse is rare. c. Reversing the incidence of TB is a part of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. d. The government of India has provided for adequate number of hospitals and physicians. The number of diagnostic centers is also adequate, at least in urban areas.
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