Member letter to Waco Tribune-Herald
MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS.
In the early 1990’s, a killer stalked New York City. This killer was no stranger to the city, but with the help of an especially savage first cousin, the killer this time eluded arrest for several years. The killer was an especially potent and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.
March 24th is World TB Day. The leading killer of persons with HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis kills 2 million people annually, mostly in the poorest nations. Even more are orphaned in the grasp of this deadly but curable disease. As the outbreak in New York demonstrated, until this disease is eradicated worldwide, more drug resistant strains will continue to surface even in industrialized nations.
It is essential for Congress to fully fund the U.S. fair share of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria for 2008. I also urge Congressman Edwards and Senators Hutchison and Cornyn to sign on to the Stop TB Now Act of 2007. If fully funded, these initiatives can cut the number of TB deaths in half by 2015 and eliminate the disease by 2050.
As one of the wealthiest nations on earth, we have the resources to stop this global killer. Let’s hope that our leaders also have the will to do so.
Gail Boyd
Letter published recently in the Waco Tribune-Herald in conjunction with Gail's work on the Results project, an international humanitarian group. Gail is a longtime, loyal member of Waco Friends of Peace.
In the early 1990’s, a killer stalked New York City. This killer was no stranger to the city, but with the help of an especially savage first cousin, the killer this time eluded arrest for several years. The killer was an especially potent and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.
March 24th is World TB Day. The leading killer of persons with HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis kills 2 million people annually, mostly in the poorest nations. Even more are orphaned in the grasp of this deadly but curable disease. As the outbreak in New York demonstrated, until this disease is eradicated worldwide, more drug resistant strains will continue to surface even in industrialized nations.
It is essential for Congress to fully fund the U.S. fair share of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria for 2008. I also urge Congressman Edwards and Senators Hutchison and Cornyn to sign on to the Stop TB Now Act of 2007. If fully funded, these initiatives can cut the number of TB deaths in half by 2015 and eliminate the disease by 2050.
As one of the wealthiest nations on earth, we have the resources to stop this global killer. Let’s hope that our leaders also have the will to do so.
Gail Boyd
Letter published recently in the Waco Tribune-Herald in conjunction with Gail's work on the Results project, an international humanitarian group. Gail is a longtime, loyal member of Waco Friends of Peace.
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