Barbara Lee Commemorates World Tuberculosis Day
For Immediate Release
March 24, 2009
Contact: Nicole Y. Williams
(202) 225-2661
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement commemorating World Tuberculosis Day:
“TB is one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world today. Even though it is completely curable, TB kills over 2 million people worldwide each year. Some 30 percent of the world's population, or approximately two billion people, are infected with the tuberculosis bacilli, and one in ten of these people will become sick with active tuberculosis.
“As the leading killer of people infected with HIV, it is critical that we address the global tuberculosis pandemic if we are ever going to achieve success in defeating HIV/AIDS.
“During the last Congress I co-authored the United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, which reauthorized our global AIDS, TB and Malaria programs and authorized $4 billion in funding for bilateral TB initiatives over the next five years. It was an important step forward, but we must continue our fight.
“I encourage everyone to learn more about TB, as well as the deadly impact of malaria and the global AIDS pandemic on the developing world. With your activism and your help we can increases funding to stop these diseases and save the lives of millions of people.”
As part of the Millennium Development Goals, the world has set its sights on halting and beginning the reverse of tuberculosis incidence by 2015. For more information about tuberculosis and the Global Fund's work to eliminate this disease, please visit "Global Fund and the Three Diseases" at www.TheGlobalFight.org.
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