What We Do

Tibetans in exile suffer one of the highest rates of tuberculosis in the world. While in the United States the rate of TB is 4 per 100,000 people, and in India it is 130 per 100,000, exiled Tibetans experience a TB rate of more than 800 per 100,000, with even higher rates in newly arrived refugees. What is even more concerning is that Tibetans have high rates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB, forms of the disease that are very hard to treat.

Photo by Jonathan Berger

TB in Tibetans and others in developing countries affects mostly the young, adults and children, exerting an enormous physical, psychological and economic toll on families and the community. The World Health Organization reports more than 9 million new cases of TB every year, with almost 2 million deaths. While science has done much to provide tools to control TB, much more needs to be done. Despite the heavy global burden of TB, investment in control programs and the development of new prevention, treatment and diagnostic tools is anemic. The National Institutes of Health spend $3 billion on HIV/AIDS research each year, but only $190 million on TB, for instance. This is particularly alarming considering TB is also the number one killer of people living with HIV/AIDS.

New tools are needed to fight the disease, and more investment is necessary to equip health systems in developing countries to better combat TB. Drug-resistant TB, which seriously threatens Tibetans and others in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe, requires urgent action, with deployment of laboratory services and appropriate drugs for containing this growing menace. But the weak and underfunded health systems for Tibetan exiles and so many others in the developing world lack the capacity to test for and treat cases, making it hard to change TB’s deadly grip in many countries.

Photo by Sonam Zoksang

Fighting tuberculosis requires resources and political commitment. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has recognized the great challenge that TB and MDR TB pose to his people, and is committed to helping fight the disease. The global community and the Tibetan government-in-exile must join forces to control TB in the Tibetan community. This year is the , and the World TB Day is the perfect opportunity to reinforce the commitment to fight this devastating disease.

Why not join us to help our Tibetan friends to attain good health.