[afro-nets] The Patients' Charter of the TB Community (4)

[Ruth Hope <ruth.hope@verizon.net>]

The Patients' Charter of the TB Community (4)
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Dear George via Claudio

I agree with Erika's argument that the right to TB care and
treatment is derived from such as #2 ICESCR article 12 is the
"right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physi-
cal and mental health." The state must take certain steps to en-
sure this, including "the prevention, treatment and control of
epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases."

Fortunately, even in the US, public opinion has moved towards
recognising that public health must include mechanisms for pro-
tecting individual's health. I cite the changed attitudes to
smoking in support of this observation. Thirty years ago litiga-
tion against the tobacco companies by the relative of a woman
who died of lung cancer failed as the jury determined that she
knew the dangers of smoking and "chose" to continue to smoke.
Now that the public has recognised that an individual smoking
causes ill-health to those around them through so-called "secon-
dary smoking" we not only have successful litigation but also
measures to curb smoking in public places, restaurants and bars.

Also, PAHO is beginning to acknowledge that public health must
learn from primary health care if it is to be successful.

So I believe that the tide of global public and governmental
thought is moving towards curbing the re-emerging TB pandemic
through equitable provision of care and treatment, and that we
should all be fostering development of this policy.

Best wishes,

Ruth Hope
mailto:ruth.hope@verizon.net