Summary
THE death of Sir John Crofton (Obituaries, The Herald, November 5) provides the opportunity to highlight the pandemic of tuberculosis. His discovery of how to treat this scourge in Scotland has saved millions around the world. TB is a disease of poverty resulting from overcrowded, damp, smoky living conditions and malnutrition, Sir John's treatment was simple, cheap and effective and yet millions still die each year in the developing world. Because governments are unwilling to spend on combating this condition, many go untreated and the bacteria spreads. Those who receive the treatment feel so much better after a short time that they do not complete their course and the infection returns with added virulence. This gives rise to drug-resistant strains, for which the treatment is more expensive and adds hugely to the health bills. TB attacks many afflicted with HIV/Aids, killing them very quickly and causing many children to become orphans.
Governments in the developed world could commemorate the life of Sir John Crofton by giving much more prominence to the funding of the elimination of TB.See the full content of this document
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Eliminating Tb
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