The current Ebola crisis points to what can happen when the world does not have a system in place to deal with life-threatening illnesses.
Back in 2009, on World TB day, the Canadian government pledged $127.4 million toward the fight against TB with $120 million going directly to launching a program called TB REACH. This program has proven itself as a life-saving, cost effective solution to the global TB crisis. Focusing specifically on finding and diagnosing cases of tuberculosis in the most vulnerable, hardest to reach regions of the world, TB REACH, often in partnership with a country's health care system, employs follow up programs which ensure that patients follow their treatment properly. This goes a long way to preventing the increase in MDR-TB or multi-drug resistant TB. All of this is thanks to initial funding from Canada. It is time for Canada to renew its pledge to eradicate TB once and for all: $120 million over 5 years to TB REACH. TB or not TB? It is up to us.
Connie Lebeau
Victoria, BC
