We should help fight tuberculosis

Abstract

Medical students need to help in the fight against tuberculosis. The Stop TB movement is organised in partnerships, globally and nationally, which enables all stakeholders to be engaged and makes the most of previously untapped resources. Until now, medical students from only a few countries have been active in Stop TB; future doctors should now be involved in national tuberculosis partnerships. Mycobacterium tuberculosis infects 100 million people each year, 8.7 million develop tuberculosis, and 1.7 million die. One third of the world's population is infected and tuberculosis has killed more humans than any other disease-about a billion people.12 After a steady decline, prevalence increased again in the late 1980s and in the past decade.3 Engaging medical students in national tuberculosis partnerships would evaluate, sustain, and if necessary improve the quality of medical education about tuberculosis. Medical students can …