Global Tuberculosis Institute

Lenawee Spotlight: Student Shares Information on Tuberculosis with Cambodians (Cambodia)

Daily Telegram, www.lenconnect.com, August 25, 2008, by Autumn Lee

A 21-year-old molecular biology student in her senior year at Defiance College in Ohio visited Cambodia as a McMaster Scholar to talk to Cambodian doctors about TB. Through the college’s McMaster School for Advancing Humanity, undergraduate students can conduct original research in response to “community-identified needs in high-need areas” of the United States and the world. Kelsey Huff began with a project to collect medical journals about TB, particularly journals on new vaccine development and new methods of testing; however, the project changed when she found an article stating that 38 percent of Cambodians have a genetic mutation in their immune system that makes them more susceptible to TB infection. Read more [+/-]

With someone translating for her, Huff shared information about the genetic mutation with physicians in Cambodia. She explained that sometimes patients showing signs of TB will have a false negative response to the purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test, that is, although they may be infected with TB, the immune cells do not react to the mycobacterium. Doctors were advised to follow-up with an X-ray or sputum test, as those patients may be part of the 38 percent of the population with the genetic mutation. Huff noted that the doctors were not receptive at first, but that the presentation ended up going over well.

Korean Group Donates Anti-TB Meds to City (The Philippines)

Sun Star Pampanga, www.sunstar.com.ph, August 15, 2008

Good People International (GPI), a Korean social responsibility organization, has donated medicines and medical supplies for treating TB to the city of San Fernando, a city in the province of Pampanga in the Philippines. The donation was arranged as part of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by GPI and the Mayor of San Fernando. The MOA seeks to build a partnership between GPI and the city to fight TB and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for indigents. Read more [+/-]

The Assistant Regional Director of the Department of Health, Cynthia Tuazon, said that the supplies will be used for the six-month treatment program of 1,500 patients. The President of the GPI Philippine Chapter, Yoon Soo Cho, stated that the organization is determined to eradicate TB in Pampanga. The GPI, which has a broad membership of Korean professionals and businessmen, has chosen four municipalities and two cities in the Philippines as pilot areas in its campaign against TB. The towns chosen are Mexico, Porac, Floridablanca, and Sasmuan, and the cities chosen are Angeles and San Fernando.

TB Program Manager's Workshop
(September 9-11)
Essential Infection Control Practices for TB Program Staff
(September 18)

Best Practices in TB Control: Strategies for Ensuring Adherence to LTBI Treatment

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