To most people in the developed world, the mere mention of the word, "tuberculosis" (or TB), brings to mind 18th Century Europe, the white plague, and movie characters with coughing fits. Many famous works of literature have made us familiar with TB through its historical name, "consumption". In the developed world, most of what people know about the disease comes from historical references and accounts. As a result, these individuals would largely consider this disease a thing of the past. This is because TB does not really affect many people in the developed world anymore. The disease no longer defines our time or culture. Many of us may never know anyone who has been diagnosed or died from TB. This disease has become just another instance of out of sight, out of mind. Unfortunately, this cannot be said for many living around the world. TB is a genuine threat to the lives and well-being of people across the developing world.
The statistics show that there is nothing antiquated about this infectious disease. Approximately 1.8 million people die each year from TB. Currently, TB kills more people per year than HIV (1.1 million deaths are attributed to HIV). Recently, two new medicines have been developed that are much more effective in aiding those coping with TB. Despite these new developments, many are stuck with outdated and largely ineffective medicines. Improved access to medicine works towards bringing the developing world's reality closer to our own. To find out more about TB and efforts to improve access to medicines, check out the Doctors Without Borders/MSF-USA video below.