» Tuberculosis. A disease of the poor
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Tuberculosis. A disease of the poor

Treatment in Rajan Babu TB Hospital. Delhi, India
October 2008 | Color Prints 		The TB burden is especially onerous in those impoverished countries least able to cope. TB is primarily a disease of the poor, found much more frequently in populations of the lowest socioeconomic strata. Transmission of the disease occurs much more readily in conditions of overcrowding and poor ventilation and has been associated with other health risks of poverty such as poor nutrition.

The relationship between TB and poverty not only increases susceptibility for contracting the disease, but also influences the ability of those afflicted to cope with the disease, and the way most societies deal with TB.
The number of TB infections in India is still staggering. Every year, 1.8 million persons develop the disease, of which about 800,000 are infectious; and, until recently, 370,000 died of it annually —1,000 every day. The disease is a major barrier to social and economic development. An estimated 100 million workdays are lost due to illness. Society and the country also incur a huge cost due to TB—nearly US$ 3 billion in indirect costs and US$ 300 million in direct costs.

The photographs show the treatment given at Rajan Babu TB Hospital in Delhi, India. This hospital in one of biggest in Asia specialized in TB. It follows the DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course) programme which emphasizes on educating the patient and his or her family about TB ensuring the treatment is completed. Each patient pays 20 Indian rupees per day, a price which can be reviewed in special cases when a patient cannot afford it.
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