Tuberculosis

TB of the lungs is characterized by the coughing up of mucus and sputum, fever, weight loss, and chest pain.

TB and HIV/AIDS are intertwined in impoverished countries and our work to fight them is also often linked with the same project tackling both. TB is now fought using multidrug therapy along the same lines as the therapies we have helped develop to tackle leprosy. We are currently working to fight the spread of TB in Bangladesh, India and Mozambique.

Bangladesh

Tuberculosis is still a major public health problem in Bangladesh. There are 70,000 TB related deaths in Bangladesh every year. LEPRA Health In Action works in three districts: Sirajganj, Pabna and Natore. Approximately 7.5 million live in these districts. The high population density and precarious living conditions are the main reasons for the spread of the disease.

India

TB is one of the most significant health problems in India. Nearly 1.8 million people in India develop TB every year. LEPRA supports the national tuberculosis control programme to develop effective projects to control the disease and reach out to those in need of treatment.

Work includes diagnosis and treatment provision, health education activities and field research.

Today the spread of TB is a global health emergency, claiming more lives than any infectious disease. By spreading healthcare messages to urban communities, we are helping children get the life-saving TB treatment they need.

You can read more about Tuberculosis from the World Health Organization website.