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According to Barrie Examiner, "In 2010, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading infectious killers of women around the world, taking the lives of 1.8 million people per year. About 4.9 million lives have been saved since 2001 through the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria with help from donor countries like Canada. "
Population growth, the HIV epidemic, increasing poverty and rising levels of drug resistance will inevitably increase the burden of this disease in women. Women are at increased risk of progression to disease during their reproductive years. However, in most low-income countries, twice as many men are notified with tuberculosis as women, reports PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
According to Barrie Examiner, "Treatment costs for TB are under $20 per person, and Canada needs to show its support for women's rights by contributing more to organizations like the Global Fund."
Pub Med Has the Following Facts Concerning TB and Women:
In high prevalence countries, however, women of reproductive age have higher rates of progression to disease than men in this age group. Gender differentials exist in reporting and diagnosing TB, and passive case finding likely leads to failure to diagnose TB in women. The socioeconomic consequences of TB in women are exacerbated by later presentation, which leads to a poor prognosis. The stigma associated with TB causes women to be divorced or to be unlikely to become married.My Thoughts...The HIV epidemic is also increasing the burden of TB for women, who seem to have a higher risk of developing TB during their reproductive years than that faced by men. TB is a neglected health problem that can be controlled through cost-effective interventions. A lack of political will and inadequate funding remain as obstacles to reducing the burden of TB in women.
Inadequate funding and limited resources are the reason many women are dying of TB related illness. TB has been linked to HIV, especially in communities stricken with poverty and economic turmoil. As we hear news such as this, we should contribute funding and time to make sure these organizations can provide the best care to women suffering in rural places and cities.
Published March 18, 2010 by Tatiana McKinney |
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| Tags:
Canada
Health Care
HIV/AIDS
Women
