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Monday 10 September 2007

TB in Zambia and in Maryland

A friend of mine who lives in Zambia has adopted several of his brother’’s children over the last few years. They needed to be adopted because all his brothers had passed away from tuberculosis. They were all in their 30s and 40s, in the prime of their lives. Not one of them had to die. TB can be cured for as little as $20. We all learned about how serious it can be with the drug-resistant case of the newlywed groom in June of this year.
According to the [Department of Health and Mental Hygiene], Maryland had 283 cases in 2005. In Prince George’s County there were 57 cases. Though not alarming levels, they still need proper treatment.
In Africa, TB is the leading cause of death of those who are infected with HIV /AIDS, taking over two million lives a year.
It is time for Congress to act. The Stop TB Now Act of 2007 (HR 1567) would support efforts to treat the disease worldwide. It has passed a key House committee. Now it is time for our House Majority Leader, Rep. Steny Hoyer to make sure it becomes law by bringing it to a vote in September. By doing so, millions of mothers and fathers will get to enjoy the lives of their children
http://www.gazette.net/stories/083007/prinlet163336_32363.shtml