Federal funding cuts threaten fight against global disease
By Sheryl Passarge and Mary Minor / For The Herald
The following scenario is happening now on our shared earth:
A human being, who is loved by their family and friends, finally gets the courage to seek care for a persistent cough, night sweats and weight loss, which they have experienced for the past couple of months. There is so much stigma around infectious diseases, they were ashamed to take action, but now this disease has overwhelmed them and they are too weak to go to work or care for their family.
If this human being lives in Snohomish County, a doctor will see them and hopefully be mindful of the symptoms they are experiencing and test for multiple causes, which might include tuberculosis. If it is tuberculosis (TB), the Snohomish County Health Department will support and help treat them. TB is curable.
Yet, if this human being lives in a country where TB is endemic, like Zambia in southern Africa, this person may travel far in their weakened state to arrive at a health center only to be met with a shuttered clinic. No diagnostics. No medicine, hence no cure. If this person does have TB, this will result in unnecessary suffering, as TB is curable.
TB is the world’s biggest infectious killer.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-federal-funding-cuts-threaten-fight-against-global-disease/
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