HELP END TUBERCULOSIS

My name is Myr (he/him). I am a 7th grade student at San Francisco Schoolhouse, working on a year-long “passion project.” I am currently at the mid-way point of my project, and have had the privilege of being able to work with some incredible experts in the field of my chosen topic: Tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is a disease that is under-represented in media, and not talked about as something that is happening in the present day, but as something of the past. But the thing is, it’s not of the past. Mycobacterium Tuberculosis has the single highest mortality rate of any single pathogen in the world today. It’s also not a disease affecting far-off places. In the US, the number of reported cases has increased by 9.9% from 2020-2021, from 7,171 TB cases in 2020, to 7,882 cases in 2021, followed by a further increase in 2022. To reduce the yearly TB case numbers and mortality worldwide - and, ultimately, end TB - we will need to maintain and strengthen our current TB prevention and treatment, while also increasing efforts to identify and treat Latent TB cases in high risk populations. In order to do this, foundations that specialize in research and development desperately need funding.

The organization I am trying to help is the Stop TB Partnership. Funding them will provide a wider range of opportunities for research and development, and greater outreach for providing medical care. Stop TB Partnership’s mission is, “to make sure every person with TB has access to effective treatment, diagnosis, and a cure; stop the transmission of Tuberculosis; reduce the inequitable social and economic toll of TB; develop, implement and increase access to new preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic TB tools, products, and strategies to amplify the voices of people with and affected by TB and secure meaningful change through strategic advocacy and communications.” Their executive director, Dr. Lucia Ditiu, has devoted her career to helping people affected by TB. Working collaboratively to end TB is essential. As it says in the Hippocratic Oath “I will not be ashamed to say "I know not", nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.”

I would be so appreciative if you could donate to my project, on behalf of this cause. Even one dollar would make a significant difference.