Today is World TB Day 2014!

The Stop TB Partnership joins 1600 organizations,

all committed to fighting a disease that is curable

but still kills three people every minute.

On World TB day e’Pap supports the fight against TB and recognises the critical role of good nutrition in the war against TB.

World TB Day, falling on March 24th each year, is designed to build public awareness that tuberculosis today remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the deaths of nearly one-and-a-half million people each year, mostly in developing countries.   It commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch astounded the scientific community by announcing that he had discovered the cause of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus. At the time of Koch's announcement in Berlin, TB was raging through Europe and the Americas, causing the death of one out of every seven people. Koch's discovery opened the way towards diagnosing and curing TB.

Tuberculosis is a preventable disease. A few simple steps, such as cough hygiene, good ventilation in work areas, and preventative treatment to those at highest risk of contracting TB, can dramatically decrease the incidence of new TB.  

BUT, In Africa, TB is escalating out of control and drug resistance is now common.

•                     The association between TB and malnutrition has long been known.

•                     Malnutrition weakens immunity, increasing the chance that latent TB will develop into active disease.

•                     TB makes malnutrition worse.

It is estimated that, between 2002 and 2020, over 150 million people will become ill, and 36 million will die if there is not better control.

e’Pap was used in an investigation in the role of nutrition in the fight against TB and this is what John Heinrich, CEO, South African National Tuberculosis Association, wrote:

On behalf of SANTA, I would like to express our appreciation of the partnership enjoyed with HETN in the distribution of e’Pap to TB patients, their families and care workers.

The pilot project of 2 tons of e’Pap per month is proving highly successful. The greatest impact is being seen on very ill / bedridden patients. Reports from recipients indicate that e’Pap is far more beneficial than supposed enriched foods received before.

These e’Pap projects have proved most valuable and are well received. Their continuation and expansion is seen as one of the three major objectives of SANTA in the continuing fight against TB and HIV/AIDS - namely Nutrition, Awareness and Directly Observed Therapy (DOTS). SANTA is in no doubt that improved nutrition can revolutionise the fight against both TB and HIV/AIDS.

In 2011 a research team from Wits Medical School, conducted a study on the impact of e’Pap on TB. Despite the short period of intervention, significant improvements in key micronutrient levels, well-being, lean body mass, energy, hand-grip strength, and clinical indicators were measured. The research is internationally published in PLOS ONE. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0055544

e’Pap can make the difference.

Help the TB affected with the 29 micronutrients in a bowl of e’Pap every day.

If you want to read more about TB and diet, this article will help you. 

 

Mary is five years old and lives in Africa. A community health worker helped her realize that her persistent cough may be TB. Watch this video to learn about Mary's story and the challenges of childhood TB.